> Source: https://meetrix.io/blogs/metabase-gcp-developer-guide/
> Markdown copy of that page. Cite the URL above, not this file.

Development

# Metabase on GCP - Developer Guide

[By Binuka Ranatunga](https://meetrix.io/blogs/authors/binuka-ranatunga/) • July 17, 2026 • 7 min read

Welcome to the Meetrix Metabase developer guide for Google Cloud Platform! Metabase is an open-source business intelligence platform that lets teams explore data, build dashboards, and share reports without writing SQL. With the Meetrix pre-configured GCP image, you can deploy a production-ready Metabase server in minutes, without wiring up the application, a database backend, and SSL yourself.

This guide walks you through finding the product on GCP Marketplace, configuring the deployment, pointing DNS, and accessing Metabase.

[

### Metabase GCP: Deploy a Self-Hosted BI Analytics Server in Minutes

Metabase GCP deployment made simple: launch Meetrix's pre-configured GCP Marketplace image and self-host your business intelligence and analytics server with full data control, no per-seat fees.

By Shalomi Umeshika • Meetrix.io

](https://meetrix.io/blogs/metabase-bi-tool-gcp/)

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

-   Basic Google Cloud Platform knowledge.
-   An active Google account with a GCP project and billing enabled.
-   A domain name you can manage DNS records for.

## Launch the Product

### Step 1: Find the Product

1.  Log in to your Google account.
2.  Go directly to the product page: [Metabase BI Analytics Server: Dashboards and Reporting](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/meetrix-public/metabase-bi-analytics-server)
3.  You can also browse all Meetrix products at the [Meetrix Solutions Page](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/browse?filter=partner:Meetrix%20Pte%20Ltd&ref=meetrix.io).
4.  You will see the product listing page. Click **Get started**.

![Metabase BI Analytics Server product details page on GCP Marketplace](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-1.png)

### Step 2: Accept the Agreements

1.  Confirm your GCP project is selected.
2.  Tick the box under **Terms and agreements** to accept the Google Cloud Marketplace and Meetrix Pte Ltd terms of service.
3.  Click **AGREE**.

![Accepting the agreements before deploying Metabase on GCP](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-2.png)

### Free Trial

This product includes a **5-day free trial** with up to USD 50.00 in licence fee credits. To activate it, tick **I accept the solution trial Terms and Conditions** on the launch screen before proceeding.

![Accepting the Metabase GCP free trial terms](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-3.png)

Trial note

Infrastructure charges (VM, disk) still apply during the trial. Only the Meetrix licence fee is credited. You can cancel the trial at any time by deleting the deployment.

### Step 3: Configure the Deployment

You will see the deployment configuration form, with **Terraform** and **Command-Line deployment** tabs. Fill in the fields across the following sections:

![Metabase GCP deployment configuration form showing deployment name, service account, zone and machine type](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-4.png)

#### General

-   **Deployment name** - A unique name for this deployment.
-   **Deployment Service Account** - Use an existing service account with the `compute.admin`, `config.agent`, and `iam.serviceAccountUser` roles, or create a new one.
-   **Zone** - Select the GCP zone closest to your users (e.g. `us-central1-a`).
-   **Machine type** - Default `e2-medium` (2 vCPU, 1 core, 4 GB memory) is a reasonable starting point. Scale up if you expect heavier query load or many concurrent dashboard users.

#### Boot Disk

-   **Boot disk type** - Default `Balanced persistent disk` is recommended.
-   **Boot disk size** - Default 20 GB is sufficient for most deployments.

#### Networking

-   **Network / Subnetwork** - Leave as `default` unless you have a custom VPC.
-   **External IP** - Leave as `Ephemeral`.
-   **Allow SSH (TCP port 22)** - Enabled by default. Restrict the source IP range if you want to limit SSH access to specific IPs.

![Metabase GCP networking configuration showing network interface and firewall settings](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-5.png)

Once the fields are filled in, follow the on-screen instructions in your chosen tab (Terraform or Command-Line deployment) to deploy, and wait a few minutes for the deployment to complete.

## Point DNS to the Server

### Step 1: Copy the External IP

Open the VM instance created by the deployment and copy the **External IP** under Network interfaces.

![Metabase VM instance network interfaces showing the external IP on GCP](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-6.png)

### Step 2: Create a DNS A Record

1.  Go to your DNS provider.
2.  Add an **A record** pointing your chosen subdomain (e.g. `data.yourdomain.com`) to the copied external IP.
3.  Wait for DNS propagation before proceeding (typically a few minutes to 1 hour).

## SSH into the Server

1.  Go to the VM instance page in the GCP console.
2.  Click **SSH** to open a browser-based terminal and authorize access.

![Metabase VM instance details page with the SSH button and Logs section on GCP](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-7.png)

## Access Metabase

Once DNS has propagated, open `https://<your-domain>` in your browser. On first visit, Metabase's setup wizard walks you through creating your admin account and adding your first database connection. After setup, you land on the Metabase home page with sample x-rays to explore.

![Metabase home dashboard after deployment on GCP](https://meetrix.io/blog-images/paas-dev-guides/metabase-gcp/metabase-gcp-8.png)

Note

If you receive a "502 Bad Gateway" error on first access, wait approximately **5 minutes** and refresh the page. The application may still be initializing.

## Manage the Server

### Check the Service Logs

Metabase runs on Docker. Find the running container and check its logs:

```bash
sudo docker ps
sudo docker logs <container-id>
```

### Shut Down the VM

To stop the VM without deleting it, go to **Compute Engine → VM Instances** in the GCP console, select your instance, and click **Stop**.

### Delete the Deployment

To fully remove the deployment and stop all billing:

1.  Go to **[Solution deployments](https://console.cloud.google.com/products/solutions/deployments)** in the GCP console.
2.  Find your Metabase deployment.
3.  Click **Delete** to remove all associated resources.

## Troubleshoot

### Dashboard Temporarily Inaccessible

If the dashboard is temporarily inaccessible right after deployment, wait 5-10 minutes and retry - the application and its SSL certificate may still be initializing.

### Check the Service Logs

```bash
sudo docker ps
sudo docker logs <container-id>
```

### Verify Firewall Ports

In the GCP console, go to **VPC Network → Firewall** and confirm the following rules exist for your VM:

| Service | Ports | Protocol |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HTTP | 80 | TCP |
| HTTPS | 443 | TCP |
| SSH | 22 | TCP |

## Conclusion

The Meetrix Metabase developer guide helps you get a self-hosted BI analytics server running on GCP without piecing together the application, database backend, and SSL yourself. Point DNS at the server, finish the setup wizard, and you have a private dashboarding and reporting platform running on infrastructure you control.

## Technical Support

If you run into any issues, our support team is here to help. Reach out to us at [support@meetrix.io](mailto:support@meetrix.io) and we will respond within 12 hours.

## Frequently Asked Questions

What is Metabase?

Metabase is an open-source business intelligence platform that lets teams explore data, build dashboards, and share reports without writing SQL. It connects directly to your existing databases and data warehouses, so your data stays where it already lives.

What are the prerequisites for deploying Metabase on GCP?

You need basic Google Cloud Platform knowledge, an active Google account with a GCP project and billing enabled, and a domain name you can manage DNS records for if you want to access Metabase over HTTPS on a custom hostname.

What machine type should I choose?

The default e2-medium (2 vCPU, 1 core, 4 GB memory) is a reasonable starting point for a small team. Scale up to a larger E2 or compute-optimised machine type if you run heavier queries or serve many concurrent dashboard users.

What databases can Metabase connect to?

Metabase supports over 20 data sources out of the box, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, BigQuery, Redshift, Snowflake, and MongoDB. Add connections from the Metabase admin panel after deployment - Metabase queries your databases directly rather than copying data into itself.

How do I check that the Metabase container is running?

SSH into the server and run: sudo docker ps. This lists the running containers along with their status. Use sudo docker logs <container-id> to inspect a specific container's logs.

How do I get technical support?

Reach out to Meetrix Support at support@meetrix.io for assistance with Metabase issues.

## Deploy Metabase on GCP in Minutes

Launch a production-ready, self-hosted Metabase BI analytics server on Google Cloud with a pre-configured Meetrix image.

[Get Started on GCP Marketplace](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/meetrix-public/metabase-bi-analytics-server)

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