---
title: "Get started with TIR Virtual Machines"
description: "Launch your first TIR Virtual Machine on a CPU plan with the default settings, then sign in to it over SSH as root and check its disk."
content_type: "get-started"
product: "tir-vm"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/tir-vm/get-started/"
---

# Get started with TIR Virtual Machines

Launch a TIR Virtual Machine (VM) on a CPU plan with the default settings, and sign in to it over SSH.
You need a TIR project, permission to create VMs in it, and an SSH key pair on your computer. For
roles and permissions, see [TIR Access Control](/tir/tir-iam/). A prepaid account also needs credit
to launch the VM; for how much, see
[How much credit do I need to launch a VM?](/tir/tir-vm/faq/#how-much-credit-do-i-need-to-launch-a-vm),
and to add it, see [Pay now in TIR](/tir/tir-billing/how-to/pay-now/).

If you need a key pair, make one in a terminal and accept the default file name:

```bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519
```

The command saves a private key and a public key in the `.ssh` folder in your home folder. The
public key has the same name as the private key, with `.pub` added. The private key stays on your
computer.

## Create the VM

1. In TIR, open your project. In the side menu, under **Compute**, select **Virtual Machines**, then
   select **Create VM**.
2. Choose the operating system you want to work in. Keep its default version, which is the one to
   take for a first VM.
3. Keep the name TIR fills in under **VM Name**, and leave **Number of VMs** at 1.
4. Under **Select Computing Resource**, switch to the **CPU** tab. Choose a plan, then a size under
   **Configuration**. A small size is enough to try things out.
5. Keep **On-Demand** under **VM Pricing**. It bills by the minute at the plan's hourly price, and
   you can stop it at any time.
6. Leave the disk under **Storage** at 30 GB. The first 30 GB are free, and you can make the disk
   larger later.
7. Under **Network & Security**, pick your key in **SSH Keys**. To add a new key, select
   the **Click here** link, give the key a label, paste the contents of your `.pub` file, and save
   it. Then select the refresh button beside the field and pick the key.
8. Leave **Security Group** empty. The VM then gets the project's default SSH security group, which
   lets you reach it over SSH.
9. Select **Launch VM**.

TIR opens the VM's page and follows the launch step by step: reserving capacity, setting up
networking, creating the VM, preparing the disk, and starting it. A launch usually takes about a
minute, and the status goes from **Waiting** to **Running**.

## Sign in over SSH

1. Once the VM is **Running**, open **Connection Details** on the **Overview** tab of its page.
2. Copy **SSH Command**. It reads `ssh root@<ip-address>`, with the VM's address in place of
   `<ip-address>`.
3. Paste it into a terminal on your computer and run it. If your private key is in a file other than
   the one SSH tries by default, name it with `-i`:

   ```bash
   ssh -i ~/.ssh/<private-key-file> root@<ip-address>
   ```

   Replace `<private-key-file>` with the name of your private key.

The first time you connect, SSH asks you to accept the VM's fingerprint. Type `yes`. If the
connection is refused right after the VM turns **Running**, give SSH a moment to start and run the
command again.

## Check the VM

You now have a prompt on the VM, and every command you type runs there as `root`. Check the disk:

```bash
df -H /
```

The size on the line for `/` is at least the 30 GB you chose. Type `exit` to leave the VM.

## Stop the VM when you finish

An On-Demand VM is billed for its plan until you stop or delete it. On the VM's page, select **Stop**
and confirm. The VM keeps its disk and files, and you can start it again whenever you
need it. When you have finished with the VM for good, [delete it](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/delete-a-vm/).

## What to do next

- [Create a VM](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/create-a-vm/) explains every field of the form, including GPU
  plans, committed billing, and launching several VMs at once.
- [Add startup scripts to a VM](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/add-startup-scripts-to-a-vm/) to install your
  tools each time it boots.
- [Attach security groups to a VM](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/attach-security-groups-to-a-vm/) to limit SSH
  to your own addresses or open a port for an app.
- [Stop, start, and restart a VM](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/stop-start-and-restart-a-vm/) covers the power
  actions in full.

For help with a message during the launch or the sign-in, see [Troubleshooting TIR Virtual
Machines](/tir/tir-vm/troubleshooting/tir-vm/).