Compute

What is a Pod?

A Pod is a container-based compute environment with GPUs on Yotta Labs, designed for running AI workloads quickly and reproducibly.

Pods run on containers, which means you can choose from official, ready-to-use images provided by Yotta Labs (pre-configured for common AI workflows), or you can build and use your own custom Docker image for full control over your runtime, dependencies, and environment.

What is a Virtual Machine?

A Virtual Machine (VM) on Yotta Labs is a GPU-powered VM instance that gives you a more traditional server environment.

It comes with a basic operating system and CUDA pre-installed, and you’re free to install and configure everything else yourself—such as frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow), drivers, libraries, and your own software stack.

What is the difference between Pods and VMs?

Pods are best when you want a container-native workflow with quick setup and portable environments.

VMs are best when you want full OS-level control and prefer managing the software stack yourself.

In general:

• Choose Pods for faster iteration and containerized workflows

• Choose VMs for maximum flexibility and full system customization

How do I create a Pod or VM?

You can create a Pod or VM directly in the Yotta Console.

1. Click Launch Console

2. Go to Compute

3. Choose Pods or Virtual Machines

4. Select your desired configuration (GPU / CPU / memory / region)

5. Click Create to launch your instance

How can I access the Pod/VM I created?

We offer two access methods:

• Jupyter Notebook: Go to the instance page and click IDE under the Connect column to open the built-in Jupyter environment.

• SSH: Use the private key associated with your Yotta account to connect to your Pod or VM via SSH.

How can I access my private key?

You can find your public and private keys under Settings → Access Keys in the Yotta Console.

Download your private key to your local machine, then use it to SSH into your on-demand Pod or VM.

Can I use my own container image for Pods?

Yes. Pods support both:

• Official images (ready to use)

• Custom images you build and maintain yourself

This makes it easy to standardize environments across teams and keep workloads reproducible.

What is included by default on a VM?

Yotta VMs come with:

• A basic operating system

• CUDA pre-installed

You are responsible for installing any additional software you need, such as:

• PyTorch / TensorFlow

• vLLM / SGLang

• System libraries and dependencies

• Your own application code and services

Is data persistent on Pods and VMs?

Persistence depends on the storage option you choose.

In general:

• If you use ephemeral storage, data may not persist after the instance is terminated.

• For long-running projects and reusable datasets/models, we recommend using persistent storage.

How is Pod/VM usage billed?

Yotta Labs uses usage-based pricing. You only pay for the compute resources you actually consume.

Compute usage is metered with per-second precision, and there are no long-term commitments required.