--- name: schematics-getting-started-software title: Software deployment in IBM Cloud Schematics description: Try out one of the IBM® provided software templates to quickly spin up a classic Virtual Server Instance (VSI), and automatically configure the instance to connect to an IBM Cloud® Databases for PostgreSQL instance. last-updated: 2026-04-23 --- > ## Documentation Index > The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/schematics?format=markdown > The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt > Use these files to discover more information as needed. # Software deployment in IBM Cloud Schematics {: #get-started-software} Try out one of the IBM® provided software templates to quickly spin up a classic Virtual Server Instance (VSI), and automatically configure the instance to connect to an IBM Cloud® Databases for PostgreSQL instance. {: shortdesc} With IBM Cloud Schematics, you can choose from a wide variety of [software and infrastructure templates](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog#software){: external} that you can use to set up IBM Cloud services, and to install IBM and Third party software. The templates are applied by using the built-in `Terraform`, `Ansible`, `Helm`, `CloudPak`, and `Operator` capabilities in Schematics. As part of this getting started tutorial, you create a Schematics workspace that points to the [VSI database](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog#about){: external} template. Then, you run this template and watch Schematics provision your VSI and your IBM Cloud Databases for PostgreSQL instance. IBM Cloud Databases for PostgreSQL is a fully managed database offering in IBM Cloud that supports storing of non-relational and relational data types. For more information about this offering, see [What is PostgreSQL?](https://www.ibm.com/products/databases-for-postgresql){: external}. This getting started tutorial incurs costs. You must have an [IBM Cloud Pay-As-You-Go or Subscription](https://cloud.ibm.com/registration){: external} account to proceed. Make sure that you review pricing information for [classic VSIs](https://cloud.ibm.com/gen1/infrastructure/provision/vs){: external} and [PostgreSQL](https://cloud.ibm.com/databases/databases-for-postgresql/create){: external}. {: important} ## Before you begin {: #vsi-postgres-prereq} Before you can use this template, you must complete the following tasks. - Make sure that you have the permissions to [create classic virtual servers](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/virtual-servers?topic=virtual-servers-managing-device-access&format=markdown). - [Create a classic API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/iam?topic=iam-classic_keys&format=markdown#create-classic-infrastructure-key) and retrieve your classic infrastructure username. This username and API key are used to verify that you have sufficient permissions to create classic infrastructure. - Make sure that you have the permissions to create an [IBM Cloud Databases for PostgreSQL instance](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-postgresql?topic=databases-for-postgresql-pgadmin-code-engine-icd-postgresql&format=markdown#pgadmin-code-engine-icd-postgresql-before-start). ## Setting up and configuring a classic VSI to run PostgreSQL with Schematics {: #vsi-postgres} Use one of the IBM provided software templates to set up and configure a classic VSI so that you can store data in an instance of IBM Cloud Databases for PostgreSQL. {: shortdesc} 1. Login to your IBM Cloud account. 2. Open the **VSI database** software template from the [IBM Cloud catalog](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog). Observe IBM Cloud is specified in **Select your deployment target** and `Terraform Version 1.5.0` or `Terraform Version 2.0.0` is displayed in **Select a delivery method**. {: note} 3. In the **Configure your workspace** section, enter **Name** for your Schematics workspace, select your **Resource group**, and the **Location** where you want to create the workspace. 4. Check **Override default Terraform version** to configure the template to support your Terraform version. 5. In the **Set the deployment values** section, enter the following information. - Click **Yes** toggle button to enter value for **admin-password** as `user123`, and **db-user-password** as `user123` that you want to use to log in to your PostgreSQL instance. The `admin-password` and `db-user-password` must be between 10 and 32 characters long and do not support any special characters. {: note} - Enter the **iaas_classic_username** as `` that you retrieved earlier. For more information about how to retrieve this information, see [Creating a classic infrastructure API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/iam?topic=iam-classic_keys&format=markdown#create-classic-infrastructure-key). - Select the resource group where you want to provision your virtual server and `PostgresSQL` instance. 6. Accept the license agreement, and click **Install**. You are redirected to the Schematics workspace **Activity** page where you can monitor the progress of your VSI and PostgreSQL setup. Note that it takes a few minutes for the setup to complete. 7. Verify your virtual server and PostgreSQL setup. - From the workspace **Resources** page, find the virtual server and PostgreSQL instance that were created for you. - Click the link to see the details of your instances. 8. Optional: Remove your Schematics workspace and all related Cloud resources. - Select the **Actions** drop down list, click **Delete**. - Select the **Delete workspace** and **Delete all associated resources** option. - Enter the name of your workspace, and click **Delete**. Now, you used the capabilities of Schematics to provision IBM Cloud infrastructure and database services, and automatically configured your services to allow network communication. ## What's next? {: #whats-next} - Explore the capabilities of [IBM Cloud Databases for PostgreSQL](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-postgresql?topic=databases-for-postgresql-getting-started&format=markdown). - Browse other [software and infrastructure templates](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog?search=label%3Aterraform#software){: external} that you can apply with Schematics. - Learn more about the [built-in capabilities in Schematics](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/schematics?topic=schematics-learn-about-schematics&format=markdown). - Import your Schematics templates and create your [private IBM Cloud catalog](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?topic=account-create-private-catalog&format=markdown). - Set up the Schematics [CLI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/schematics?topic=schematics-setup-cli&format=markdown) or [API](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/schematics?topic=schematics-setup-api&format=markdown) to start automating the provisioning and management of Cloud resources.