Why do I need to use the GCloud shell every 120 days?

[Syacko]

"Deletion notice for your Google Cloud Shell home directory" 
I connect to the Google project, and there is also daily usage on the VM, so why is Google saying I have to use the Cloud shell?

[Willbin]

Hello @Syacko,

Welcome to Google Cloud COmmunity!

It is just simply because you are not using it. If you don’t use Cloud Shell for 120 days your home disk will be deleted, that’s the reason for what you are receiving the message.

If you want to avoid this just start a Cloud Shell session and this will prevent the removal.
Refer to the “Usage limits” section of this document.

In order to keep the Cloud Shell home directory please do the following:

1. From your Google Cloud console click the button to start Cloud Shell or click the “LAUNCH CLOUD SHELL” button from the CLOUD SHELL Pan of this link. Already having a project or organization is not required to start up Cloud Shell.

2. Cloud Shell should authenticate you automatically but if not, you can run the following command: “gcloud auth login” which authorize gcloud to access the Cloud Platform with Google user credentials.

The Cloud Shell data is not project specific and is instead associated with the user account. So it will not impact your project that currently is in production.

Thanks!

[Syacko]

Thank you for the reply. While I'm not using the GCloud Shell, I do ssh
into the instance, and I have a server running on the instance. It seems
that basing usage only on one access method forces people into having
unneeded admin tasks.

Is there someone to request a change in this policy?

Scott

*Scott Yacko*
*CEO/CTO of STY-Holdings*
*(PII Removed by Staff) *
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syacko/
*(PII Removed by Staff) / Telegram, Signal user*