Google Associate Cloud EngineerSetting up a cloud solution environmentEasy

A cloud engineer needs to set up their local development environment to interact with Google Cloud using the `gcloud` CLI. They have already installed the Cloud SDK. What is the next essential step to authenticate their `gcloud` CLI and link it to their Google Cloud account?

  1. ARun `gcloud components update` to ensure all components are current.
  2. BExecute `gcloud auth login` to open a browser for account selection and authorization.
  3. CConfigure a default project using `gcloud config set project [PROJECT_ID]`.
  4. DCreate a new service account key using `gcloud iam service-accounts keys create`.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. Execute `gcloud auth login` to open a browser for account selection and authorization.

After installing the Cloud SDK, the primary step to allow the `gcloud` CLI to interact with Google Cloud resources under a user's identity is to authenticate. The `gcloud auth login` command facilitates this by opening a web browser for the user to select and authorize their Google Cloud account.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. `gcloud components update` is used to update the SDK components, which is good practice but not the authentication step itself.
  • C. `gcloud config set project` is used to set a default project after authentication, not for the initial authentication process.
  • D. Creating a service account key is for programmatic access, typically by applications or scripts, not for a user's initial `gcloud` CLI authentication.

gcloud auth login

The `gcloud auth login` command is used to authenticate the `gcloud` command-line tool with a Google Cloud user account, enabling it to access and manage Google Cloud resources.

  • Opens a web browser for user authentication.
  • Establishes user credentials for `gcloud` CLI operations.
  • Required for initial setup of a user's local `gcloud` environment.

Memory trick: To Command the Cloud, you must Login First.

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