Fix: GCP Quota 'CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY' Exceeded Error

by Kenji Nakamura 51 views

Introduction

Hey guys! Running into cloud capacity issues can be a real headache, especially when you're trying to get your infrastructure up and running. This article dives into a common problem encountered on Google Cloud Platform (GCP): the dreaded Quota 'CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY' exceeded error. We'll break down what this error means, why it happens, and, most importantly, how to fix it. If you're using Cloud-Barista, CM-Beetle, or CB-Spider, this guide is especially for you. Let's get started and get those VMs spinning!

Understanding the 'CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY' Quota

When working with cloud platforms like GCP, quotas are essentially guardrails set in place to manage resource consumption and prevent runaway costs. The CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY quota specifically limits the number of CPU cores you can use within a particular VM family in a given region. Think of VM families like different categories of virtual machines, such as general-purpose (N-series), compute-optimized (C-series), or memory-optimized (M-series). Each family is designed for specific types of workloads, and each has its own set of limitations.

The error message "Quota 'CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY' exceeded. Limit: 0.0 in region asia-northeast3" tells us a few critical things:

  1. The Quota: We've hit the limit for the CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY quota.
  2. The Limit: Our current limit is set to 0.0 cores. This is a crucial point because it means we haven't been allocated any CPUs for the specific VM family we're trying to use in the specified region.
  3. The Region: The issue is occurring in the asia-northeast3 region, which is GCP's Osaka region. Quotas are region-specific, so you might have sufficient quota in one region but not another.

Why Does This Happen?

Several reasons can lead to hitting this quota:

  • New Accounts: When you first sign up for GCP, your account starts with default quotas, which can be quite restrictive. This is a security measure to prevent abuse and manage resource allocation.
  • Region Availability: Some regions have lower default quotas than others, especially newer or less frequently used regions.
  • Resource Exhaustion: If you've been spinning up VMs in the same family and region, you might have gradually consumed your quota without realizing it.
  • Unintentional Over-Provisioning: Sometimes, misconfigured scripts or automation tools can inadvertently request more resources than you have available.

Understanding these reasons helps us troubleshoot and prevent future occurrences of this error. Now, let's move on to the practical steps for resolving the issue.

Diagnosing the Issue

Before jumping into solutions, let's take a systematic approach to diagnosing the problem. The error message itself gives us a head start, but we need to gather more information to understand the full picture. Here’s how we can dig deeper:

  1. Review the Error Logs: The provided logs from CB-Tumblebug and CB-Spider are invaluable. They show the exact error message, the timestamp, and the components involved. Pay close attention to the lines:
    • cb-spider | [CB-SPIDER].[ERROR]: 2025-08-06 06:31:58 VMHandler.go:516, github.com/cloud-barista/cb-spider/cloud-control-manager/cloud-driver/drivers/gcp/resources.(*GCPVMHandler).StartVM() - Operation error: Quota 'CPUS_PER_VM_FAMILY' exceeded. Limit: 0.0 in region asia-northeast3.
    • `cb-tumblebug | 6:31AM ERR src/core/infra/provisioning.go:1630 > error=