---
title: GCE Network Host
description: When the discovery-gce plugin is installed, the following are also allowed as valid network host settings: Examples: Create Google Compute Engine instance...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/plugins/discovery-gce-network-host
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# GCE Network Host
When the `discovery-gce` plugin is installed, the following are also allowed as valid network host settings:

| GCE Host Value      | Description                                                          |
|---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `_gce:privateIp:X_` | The private IP address of the machine for a given network interface. |
| `_gce:hostname_`    | The hostname of the machine.                                         |
| `_gce_`             | Same as `_gce:privateIp:0_` (recommended).                           |

Examples:
```yaml
# get the IP address from network interface 1
network.host: _gce:privateIp:1_
# Using GCE internal hostname
network.host: _gce:hostname_
# shortcut for _gce:privateIp:0_ (recommended)
network.host: _gce_
```


## How to start (short story)

- Create Google Compute Engine instance (with compute rw permissions)
- Install Elasticsearch
- Install Google Compute Engine Cloud plugin
- Modify `elasticsearch.yml` file
- Start Elasticsearch