- A
--image-project
Correct. The `--image-project` flag is required to specify the project ID that contains the custom image, enabling cross-project image usage.
- B
--source-instance
Why wrong: Used to create an image from an instance, not to create an instance from an image.
- C
--image
Why wrong: Incorrect. While `--image` is necessary to specify the image name, it is not the flag that addresses the cross-project requirement. The combination of `--image` and `--image-project` is needed, but the question asks for the flag required specifically because the image is in another project.
- D
--image-family
Why wrong: Used to specify a family, not a specific image.
Question 494 of 1,000
Google PCA gcloud compute instances create --image Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of manage and provision cloud infrastructure. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: gcloud compute instances create --image. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
When creating a Compute Engine instance from a custom image stored in another project, which gcloud flag is required?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
--image-project
When creating a Compute Engine instance from a custom image stored in another project, the `--image-project` flag is required to specify the project that contains the image. Without this flag, gcloud defaults to the current project and will not find the image. The `--image` flag is also required to specify the image name, but the question specifically highlights the cross-project situation, making `--image-project` the distinctive required flag.
Key principle: gcloud compute instances create --image
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
--image-project
Why this is correct
Correct. The `--image-project` flag is required to specify the project ID that contains the custom image, enabling cross-project image usage.
Related concept
gcloud compute instances create --image
- ✗
--source-instance
Why it's wrong here
Used to create an image from an instance, not to create an instance from an image.
- ✗
--image
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While `--image` is necessary to specify the image name, it is not the flag that addresses the cross-project requirement. The combination of `--image` and `--image-project` is needed, but the question asks for the flag required specifically because the image is in another project.
- ✗
--image-family
Why it's wrong here
Used to specify a family, not a specific image.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often think that `--image` is sufficient, but when using an image from another project, `--image-project` is mandatory; otherwise the instance creation will fail.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When creating an instance from a custom image in another project, you must also grant the source project's image the `compute.imageUser` role to the service account or user in the destination project. The `--image` flag accepts the image name, and if the image is in a different project, you must additionally use `--image-project` to specify that project — but the question asks for the flag that is *required*, and `--image` is mandatory in all cases. Under the hood, the Compute Engine API's `instances.insert` method requires the `sourceImage` field in the disk's `initializeParams` to be a fully qualified URL like `projects/{source-project}/global/images/{image-name}`.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- gcloud compute instances create --image
- gcloud compute instances create --image-project
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
gcloud compute instances create --image
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Manage and provision cloud infrastructure — This question tests Manage and provision cloud infrastructure — gcloud compute instances create --image.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: --image-project — When creating a Compute Engine instance from a custom image stored in another project, the `--image-project` flag is required to specify the project that contains the image. Without this flag, gcloud defaults to the current project and will not find the image. The `--image` flag is also required to specify the image name, but the question specifically highlights the cross-project situation, making `--image-project` the distinctive required flag.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review gcloud compute instances create --image, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
gcloud compute instances create --image
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This PCA practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCA exam.
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