Follow your Google Distributed Cloud connected hardware procurement journey from the initial order to final activation. Google and its partners coordinate with you using the contact details provided during order placement. The primary channel for status updates and information requests is the Comments tab in the Google Cloud console.
Order lifecycle and coordination
As your order progresses through different stages, Google or its partners contact you to coordinate delivery, installation, and configuration. Ensure that your contact information is correct.
The following table summarizes the milestones and coordination steps during the procurement and delivery process.
| Order state | Milestone | Coordination details | Required action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft | Order preparation | Your order is being drafted in the Google Cloud console. | Complete order details, network configuration, and hardware selection. |
| In review | Sales review | A Google Cloud sales representative contacts you to review and finalize your order. | Work with your representative to finalize the configurations. |
| Accepted | Order accepted | Google accepts the order for fulfillment and contracts are signed. | None. |
| Building Hardware | Hardware provisioning | Google builds and configures the hardware. | Prepare your site (power, space, cooling) according to the installation requirements. |
| Shipping Hardware | Delivery scheduling | Google's logistics carrier or delivery partner contacts you using the details provided on the order. | Coordinate with the carrier to schedule the delivery date and time. |
| Installing | On-site installation | Google-certified technicians or partners coordinate access and perform the physical installation. | Ensure site access is granted for the technicians. Prepare network ports. |
| Accepted, Shipping Hardware, or Installing | Schedule change | You can update preferences in the Google Cloud console or coordinate with your Google contact. | Edit delivery or installation preferences in the Google Cloud console. |
| Missing info or Action required | Fulfillment blocker | The Google team posts a request for details, such as invalid IP settings or a missing Customer Intake Questionnaire (CIQ), in the Comments tab. | View comments in the Google Cloud console and respond to them to unblock fulfillment. |
| Completed | Activation | Check the Google Cloud console to confirm that hardware is online and configured. | Verify cluster availability in the Google Cloud console, and start deploying workloads. Billing begins. |
Required actions
This section explains the actions you must take during the procurement and delivery process.
Respond to "Missing info" or "Action required" status
If your order status changes to Missing info or Action required, or if you receive a comment on your order, respond to the comment to unblock the order.
- In the Google Cloud console, go to the Orders page.
- Select your Google Cloud project.
- Click the order that requires attention.
- To view the request from the Google fulfillment team, open the Comments tab.
- Enter your response.
- Click Comment.
Schedule delivery
When the hardware is ready to ship, Google or its logistics partner contacts you to schedule delivery.
- Reply to the logistics carrier promptly to coordinate a delivery slot.
- Ensure that an authorized representative is present at the delivery location during the agreed window.
- Verify that the delivery path is clear and can accommodate the shipment size.
Prepare for installation
Prior to the scheduled installation date:
- Provide the technician details to your facility's security team to pre-authorize access.
- Ensure that the target rack space is ready and meets the physical and environmental requirements.
- Confirm that the network ports on your switches or routers are patched and configured according to the network design. For more information, see Networking.
- Ensure that your network administrator is available to assist with network integration and troubleshooting during turnup.
Handle schedule changes
If you need to change the scheduled delivery or installation date, or if Google requests a change:
- In the Google Cloud console, go to the Orders page.
- Select your Google Cloud project.
- Click the order that requires attention.
- To change the delivery date, for Delivery preference, click Edit delivery preference. To change the installation date, for Installation preference, click Edit installation preference.
- For New delivery preference or New installation preference, select a date, and then click Save.
Verify activation
When the installation is complete and the hardware is online:
- Confirm your hardware status based on your provisioning choice:
- Pre-configured clusters: Go to the Clusters page to verify that your clusters are visible and reporting a healthy status.
- Self-configured clusters: Go to the Edge Zones page to verify that your machines are online, and then create your clusters.
- Verify that you can access the clusters using
kubectl. For more information, see Configure kubectl connectivity. - Start deploying workloads.