Question 1

What's the difference between a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) and a subnet?

Accepted Answer

A VCN is the overall private network boundary you create in OCI (like the entire private network). A subnet is a smaller IP range inside the VCN where you place resources (like compute instances). You typically create multiple subnets to separate tiers (public web tier vs private database tier) and apply different routing and security rules.

Question 2

When should I use a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN)?

Accepted Answer

Use a VCN whenever you need isolated, controllable networking for OCI resources—especially for production workloads. It’s a good fit when you need private subnets, strict inbound/outbound rules, hybrid connectivity to on-premises, segmentation between application tiers, or private access to services without exposing systems to the public internet.

Question 3

How much does a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) cost?

Accepted Answer

Creating and using a VCN itself is typically not billed as a standalone line item, but you pay for related networking services and traffic. Common cost drivers include NAT gateways, load balancers, VPN or dedicated connectivity (FastConnect), public IP usage (if applicable), and data egress (traffic leaving OCI to the internet or other regions). Pricing varies by region and the specific networking components you attach to the VCN.

Virtual Cloud Network

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