# Connect your Exoscale account

Create an Exoscale API key with access to compute, connect it to Nuvlo, and create your first server in a European zone.

## Before you start

- An Exoscale organization with a payment method or credit.
- Permission in the Exoscale portal to create IAM roles and API keys.
- A Nuvlo account where you are the owner, an admin or a developer. Viewers can’t connect providers. See [roles and permissions](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/roles-and-permissions).

## Step 1: Create an IAM role

Every Exoscale API key gets its permissions from a role, and a key’s role can’t be changed later. Create the role first.

In the Exoscale portal, open **IAM** → **Roles** and choose **Add**. Name the role, for example `nuvlo`.

Nuvlo only uses the **compute** service: instances, instance types, templates, security groups, snapshots and zones. For the narrowest role, set the default service strategy to deny and allow only the compute service. A role without restrictions also works, but its key can then do everything in your organization.

## Step 2: Create an API key

Open **IAM** → **Keys** and choose **Add**. Name the key, select the role from step 1 and choose **Create**.

Copy the **API key** (it starts with `EXO`) and its **secret**. Exoscale shows the secret only once. If you lose it, create a new key and replace it in Nuvlo with **Manage**.

## Step 3: Open Server providers in Nuvlo

In Nuvlo, open **Integrations** → **Server providers** ([go there](https://app.nuvlo.dev/dashboard/integrations/server-providers)). Choose **Add provider**, then **Exoscale**.

![The Add provider dialog with Exoscale among the providers](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/connect-aws--add-provider.webp)

## Step 4: Enter the key and secret

Optionally enter an **Account label**. Paste the key into **API key** and the secret into **API secret**, then choose **Connect account**. Nuvlo checks the key with Exoscale before it saves it.

![The Connect Exoscale dialog with the API key and API secret fields](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/connect-exoscale--connect-dialog.webp)

## Step 5: Check that the account is connected

The account appears under **Connected accounts** with the status **Not in use** until your first server is linked to it.

![The Connected accounts table with a provider account, its status and the Manage button](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/connect-a-server-provider--connected.webp)

## Step 6: Create your first Exoscale server

Open **Servers** and create a server ([start here](https://app.nuvlo.dev/dashboard/servers/create)). Choose **Exoscale** and your account, then choose what you will host.

On **Region & plan**, pick a zone and an instance type. The list comes from your Exoscale account, so it shows only the types your organization can use. Prices are in euros and include a 50 GB disk.

Finish the remaining steps and choose **Create server**. See [Create a server](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/create-a-server).

## Good to know

| Topic | On Exoscale |
| --- | --- |
| Zones | All in Europe: Geneva, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna (two zones), Sofia and Zagreb. |
| Network | Nuvlo creates a security group named `nuvlo` in each zone it uses. It opens SSH, HTTP and HTTPS (ports 22, 80 and 443). |
| Billing | Per second, with no monthly cap. |
| Resize | Standard, CPU-optimized and memory-optimized types can be mixed; other families stay within their family. The IP stays the same. See [Resize a server](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/resize-a-server). |
| Snapshots | Restored over the server. See [Server snapshots](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/server-snapshots). |
| Delete | The server and its disk are deleted at Exoscale right away. Snapshots stay until you delete them. |

## Troubleshooting

| You see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **The provider rejected this key** | Check that you copied the key and the secret into the right fields, and that the key’s role allows the compute service. |
| **No plans available.** on **Region & plan** | The key’s role doesn’t allow listing instance types. Create a key with a role that allows the compute service. |
| **Exoscale API error: 403** | The key’s role blocks something Nuvlo needs. A key’s role can’t be changed, so create a new key with a role that allows compute, and replace it with **Manage**. |

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Source: https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/connect-exoscale