# Creating a link-based solution

When creating Service Catalog solutions for users in your organization, you can
create a link-based solution, which is a reference link to a solution that your
users download and launch. After you create the solution, you can share it with
your users by assigning it to [catalogs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/service-catalog/docs/create-catalog.md.txt).

## Before you begin

- You must have the [Catalog Admin](https://docs.cloud.google.com/service-catalog/docs/access-control.md.txt#instance_admin_role) (`roles/cloudprivatecatalogproducer.admin`) *OR* [Catalog Manager](https://docs.cloud.google.com/service-catalog/docs/access-control.md.txt#catalog_manager_role) (`roles/cloudprivatecatalogproducer.manager`) role for the Google Cloud organization associated with the Google Cloud project which has Service Catalog enabled. If you don't have this role, contact your Organization Administrator to request access.

## Creating the solution in Service Catalog

To create a link-based solution in Service Catalog:

1. Go to the Service Catalog Admin [**Solutions** page](https://console.cloud.google.com/catalog/admin/solutions) in the Google Cloud console.   
   [Go to the Solutions page](https://console.cloud.google.com/catalog/admin/solutions)
2. Click **Select** to choose the Google Cloud project.
3. Click **CREATE SOLUTION** . In the drop-down list, select **Create a Link
   solution**.
4. Enter a name, URL, description, and tagline for your solution. The tagline is a short description of a solution that users see as they browse Service Catalog.
5. Optionally, upload an icon for the solution. The recommended dimensions for an icon are 80 by 80 pixels.
6. Optionally, add a link for getting support.
7. Optionally, add a link to documentation for the solution.
8. Click **CREATE**.

The following screenshot illustrates creating a link-based solution:
![Form to create a link-based solution](https://docs.cloud.google.com/static/service-catalog/images/screen-privatecatalog-create-link.png)

## Next steps

- [Assign the solution](https://docs.cloud.google.com/service-catalog/docs/assign-solutions.md.txt) to a catalog, so that users in your organization can access and launch the solution.