# Prerequisites

## Google Cloud Platform

This tutorial leverages the [Google Cloud Platform](https://cloud.google.com/) to streamline provisioning of the compute infrastructure required to bootstrap a Kubernetes cluster from the ground up. [Sign up](https://cloud.google.com/free/) for $300 in free credits.

[Estimated cost](https://cloud.google.com/products/calculator/#id=78df6ced-9c50-48f8-a670-bc5003f2ddaa) to run this tutorial: $0.22 per hour ($5.39 per day).

> The compute resources required for this tutorial exceed the Google Cloud Platform free tier.

## Google Cloud Platform SDK

### Install the Google Cloud SDK

Follow the Google Cloud SDK [documentation](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/) to install and configure the `gcloud` command line utility.

Verify the Google Cloud SDK version is 173.0.0 or higher:

```
gcloud version
```

### Set a Default Compute Region and Zone

This tutorial assumes a default compute region and zone have been configured.

If you are using the `gcloud` command-line tool for the first time `init` is the easiest way to do this:

```
gcloud init
```

Otherwise set a default compute region:

```
gcloud config set compute/region us-west1
```

Set a default compute zone:

```
gcloud config set compute/zone us-west1-c
```

> Use the `gcloud compute zones list` command to view additional regions and zones.

## Important note for Windows users

The commands for Windows in this tutorial are intended to be run using PowerShell and will
not work as intended using cmd.  If you are at all unsure about what shell you're using
execute the following command:
```
(dir 2>&1 *`|echo CMD);&<# rem #>echo PowerShell
```
If it outputs `CMD` then execute `powershell.exe` before continuing.

Next: [Installing the Client Tools](02-client-tools.md)