Startup script doesn't run without external IP

[pragyandas]

When I set external IP to None in the network interface of GCE instance the configured startup script is detected but it doesn't run. The startup script runs when I update the VM and set an external IP. I didn't find any documentation regarding this. 
All the VM instances are part of an instance group which is the backend of an internal load balancer, so I don't need an external IP on them. 

[SebastianG]

Hi @pragyandas,
Can you please share with us your startup script and give more details about what do you want to achieve?

[pragyandas]

I am just trying to install a list of binaries from the internet

[SebastianG · Accepted solution]

It seems that you don't have a Cloud NAT provisioned, without this none of the servers from a private network will be able to connect to internet and pull the packages.

If you don't have that just go ahead and create a Cloud Router + Cloud NAT, attach that your private network and you should be good to go.

[pragyandas]

This solved the issue – thank you very much!
I wish this was part of the VM metadata configuration 🙂 

[SebastianG]

Glad to hear that worked 👍