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Google Cloud Shell

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Re: Google Cloud Shell

#31

This doesn't actually appear to be new; at least not that I can tell. Google Cloud has supported being able to open an SSH session to any of your instances right from the browser for awhile. I've found it to be a killer feature and am really surprised Amazon Web Services does not offer the same thing.

> I've found it to be a killer feature and am really surprised Amazon Web Services does not offer the same thing.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/secure-shell/pnhec...

I use it every day. Easily access any SSH server from the browser.

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#32
Coming from an AWS shop, I guess I don't understand the use case(s) for this. What this enable me to do that I couldn't accomplish by ssh'ing to any of the boxes in my environment?

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#33
post #5

I like this, and it feels "Google-y". Worried that a handful of us will use it, lean on it heavily, and then Google will do what Google does and pull the plug on it.

I am so tired of this meme. Every business shuts down products and services. To re-iterate this meme every time Google announces something is tired. I'm guessing you still hold Google accountable for shutting down Reader - a service you probably never used but go to the well each and every time they announce a service or product.

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which would be understandable if they ever shut down any cloud service offering of this level before (which they have not). This whole "Google loves to shut stuff down" is really tired and overplayed. Go ahead and compare Google's track record with Apple's or Microsoft's, or any other company. They are about on par, yet Google almost always gives 6+ months notice (often over a year), provides one-click alternatives,…

On that list that I've used: Buzz, Pack, Desktop, Reader, iGoogle. To Be Discontinued: Google Drive Hosting, Google Code. I don't think it's tired and overplayed. It's a consequence of how Google works; try lots of things and don't be afraid to pull the plug. That strategy is great, and it works. It's just sometimes the services that are on the edge of being worth Google's time to maintain cause the most backlash bec…

What to all those free consumer services that you don't pay for and and aren't connected to things you pay for have in common?

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#36
post #32

Coming from an AWS shop, I guess I don't understand the use case(s) for this. What this enable me to do that I couldn't accomplish by ssh'ing to any of the boxes in my environment?

I think GCP's long term strategy is still to move all devops work into Google. They've stated this with GAE for awhile, and this is a logical extension move as part of that strategy for app devs who like to "SSH into their machines".

Like a lot of "cloud services", this is indeed nothing you can't do on your own box, and I imagine tens of thousands of people have done it before and will do it again on AWS. Google has now done it in a way that generalizes for everyone. Aside from what it lists on the page (installing the GC SDK and setting up authentication), Google handles all of the opsy stuff you would need to do on your own.

Running a Linux server and installing / authenticating an SDK is not really that hard, of course, but it's one less thing to worry about when developing an app. That's almost always always a good thing.

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#37
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it's a micro instance. At most it'll cost what a micro instance costs.

0.005 p/h ~ $3.60 per month for those who were wondering.

That's the rate though. For little sessions here and there during your working hours and per-minute billing, I feel like it'll be unusual to do more than say 5 hours a week even if you often forget to exit before the "garbage collector" turns it off for you. That gets you into below $1/month territory pretty easily.

Disclaimer: I work on Compute Engine but not Cloud Shell.

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#38

So, what if you don't have that button? Is there a minimum amount of product you need to have before this service becomes active?

I have two GCE accounts - one personal, where I do have the cloud console feature, and one business domain currently on a $300 trial, where the button does not show up.

Curious

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#39
post #32

Coming from an AWS shop, I guess I don't understand the use case(s) for this. What this enable me to do that I couldn't accomplish by ssh'ing to any of the boxes in my environment?

A few guesses:

a. It just works. No need to download and configure the right version of the SDK.

b. Does not timeout when you close your laptop [I hope!].

c. I works on a Chromebook. Possibly not something you care about, but a historical pain point for the consistency of Google offerings.

Re: Google Cloud Shell

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disclosure: I work for Google. To the best of my recollection, I don't believe we've ever shutdown a product. Was there one in particular that hit you? (Reader, Wave, etc are totally different divisions.)

Google Drive hosting, to be fair it still works and you guys gave plenty of heads up (August 31, 2016). Just because they are in different divisions doesn't mean Google hasn't shut things down.

Source: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2881970
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