Connect to a GCP VM via SSH and Install Apache Web Server

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:

1. Connect to a Google Cloud VM using the GCP Console (Web UI)
2. Install and start the Apache HTTP Server
3. Test it by opening the browser

This is a beginner-friendly guide, and you only need basic terminal skills.

Requirements

Make sure you have:

• A Google Cloud project with billing enabled
• A Compute Engine VM already created
• gcloud CLI installed and authenticated:

There 2 way to connect to GCP ssh.

1. Using command line

Install Google Cloud SDK:

curl -O https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/downloads/google-cloud-cli-453.0.0-darwin-x86_64.tar.gz
tar -xf google-cloud-cli-*.tar.gz
./google-cloud-sdk/install.sh

Then, close and reopen the command line.

if everything is ok, try to execute:

gcloud init

A popup to authenticate will open.
To set a default project:

gcloud config set project [IL_TUO_PROJECT_ID]

To get the already created VM:

gcloud compute instances list

To connect in ssh:

gcloud compute ssh [VM_NAME] --zone=[ZONE]

2. Directly through GCP console

1️ Connect to the VM

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console
2. In the left menu, go to Compute Engine > VM instances
3. Find your VM and click the SSH button in the row.

2️ Update packages

sudo apt update

(Optional):

sudo apt upgrade

3️ Install Apache

sudo apt install apache2 -y

4️ Start Apache

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

Check status:

sudo systemctl status apache2

5️ Open in browser

gcloud compute instances list

Then open:
http://[EXTERNAL_IP]

(Optional) Allow HTTP traffic

gcloud compute instances add-tags [VM_NAME] --tags=http-server --zone=[ZONE]
gcloud compute firewall-rules create allow-http --allow=tcp:80 --target-tags=http-server

📚 Quiz

1. Which command connects to a GCP VM?

   • A. ssh gcp connect
   • B. gcloud compute ssh
   • C. gcp ssh vm
   • D. gcloud vm access

2. Default Apache port?

   • A. 443
   • B. 21
   • C. 80
   • D. 22

3. Apache install command?

   • A. yum install apache2
   • B. install apache
   • C. apt install apache2
   • D. gcloud install apache2

4. Test Apache at?

   • A. localhost
   • B. 127.0.0.1
   • C. [EXTERNAL_IP]
   • D. google.com

5. Purpose of systemctl enable apache2?

   • A. Run once
   • B. Uninstall
   • C. Start at every boot
   • D. Disable Apache

✅ Correct Answers

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C