Rackspace Flex Cloud FAQ

General Questions

What is OpenStack?
OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that allows users to manage and deploy virtual machines, storage, and networking resources in a cloud environment. It provides a self-service portal for creating and managing cloud-based infrastructure.

How do I access Rackspace Flex Cloud?
You can access Rackspace Flex Cloud through the web-based dashboard known as Skyline, the command-line interface (CLI), or APIs for programmatic access. See this guide for more information: $PLACEHOLDER

What’s the difference between Skyline and the CLI?
Skyline: A modern, web-based UI for managing Rackspace Flex Cloud resources.
CLI: The command-line interface, offering more advanced functionality and automation capabilities.

How do I change my Rackspace Flex Cloud password?
Your password is your Rackspace Cloud API Key, you can reset it from the login.rackspace.com portal. However, this will result in your API Key changing on the Rackspace Cloud side as well, and any applications you have using the key will need to be updated.

Compute (Virtual Machines / Instances)

What is a flavor, and how do I choose one?
A flavor defines the hardware configuration of a VM, including RAM, vCPUs, and disk size. Choose a flavor based on your workload. For more information on available flavors see here: Flex Instance Flavors

Can I resize my VM after it's created?
Yes, but your Rackspace Flex Cloud environment must support instance resizing. You can change a VM’s flavor using Resize Instance in the dashboard.

How do I access my VM via SSH?

1. Use the floating IP address assigned to your instance.
2. Ensure your security group allows SSH traffic (port 22).
3. Using a terminal session:

ssh -i your-key.pem username@floating-ip

Replace your-key.pem with your private key and floating-ip with the assigned IP.

What happens if I stop or delete my VM?

• Stopping a VM keeps its disk and settings intact, but it won’t use compute resources.
• Deleting a VM permanently removes it, including local storage (unless backed by a volume).

Storage

What’s the difference between ephemeral storage and volume storage?

• Ephemeral storage: Temporary disk space tied to a VM. Data stored in ephemeral storage is lost when the VM is migrated, stopped, or deleted! Ephemeral Storage is NOT captured as part of an instance snapshot!
• Volume storage: Persistent storage saved to a volume that remains even if a VM is deleted - unless explicitly stated otherwise upon volume creation.

How do I attach a volume to my VM?

1. Go to Storage > Volumes in the Skyline dashboard.
2. Click Create Volume, then attach it to an existing instance.
3. Inside the VM, format and mount the volume to use it.

Can I take a snapshot of my VM?
Yes, you can create instance snapshots to save the VM’s state for backup or cloning purposes. Snapshots are stored as images and can be used to launch new instances. Snapshots do not capture Ephemeral or Volume data, only Local data.

Networking

What is a floating IP, and why do I need one?
A floating IP is a public, routable IP address that allows external access to your VM. Rackspace Flex Cloud assigns private IPs by default, so you need a floating IP for SSH or external services.

How do I assign a floating IP to my VM?

1. Go to Network > Floating IPs and allocate a new floating IP.
2. Assign the floating IP to your instance’s network interface.

What are security groups, and how do they work?
Security groups act as firewall rules for VMs, controlling inbound and outbound traffic.

How do I allow traffic to my VM?
Modify the security group rules to permit egress and ingress for the required traffic (e.g., adding a rule for SSH on port 22).

Troubleshooting

I can’t access my VM via SSH. What should I check?

• Ensure a floating IP is assigned.
• Check security group rules allow SSH (port 22).
• If using SSH Keys, verify your key pair matches the VM’s configuration.
• Try accessing the VM console via Skyline to diagnose issues.

My instance encountered an error. What can I do?

• Check the instance logs via the dashboard.
• Restart the instance.
• If the issue persists, contact support.

I accidentally deleted my instance. Can it be recovered?
If the instance was created using a volume, you can create a new VM from that volume. Otherwise, snapshots or backups are required for recovery.