# IBM Cloud

> An IBM Cloud resource handler connects to an IBM Cloud account and manages its data centers, networks, and servers

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Cloud Management Platform (CMP) connects through the IBM Cloud classic infrastructure API. Import data centers into CMP, and each one becomes an environment that users can order into.

## Before you begin

- An IBM Cloud account on at least a Pay-as-you-go plan.
- A [classic infrastructure API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?topic=account-classic_keys), and the account ID it belongs to. For how to create and find one, see [Managing user API keys](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?topic=account-userapikey&interface=ui) in the IBM Cloud documentation.
- Outbound access to `api.softlayer.com`, or to `api.service.usgov.softlayer.com` for IBM Cloud for Government.

## Add an IBM Cloud resource handler

1. Go to **Admin** > **Resource Handlers**, select **Add**, then select **IBM Cloud** under **Public Cloud**.
1. Enter the account ID in **API Username**.
1. Enter the key in **API Key**. If the password vault feature is enabled, this field offers **Locally Stored** or **Vault Managed**; select **Vault Managed** to read the key from a configured vault provider. Select **Continue**.

   ![Screenshot of the Create Resource Handler dialog for IBM Cloud.](/img/cmp/configure/infrastructure/resource-handlers/ibm-cloud/create-resource-handler-ibm-cloud.png)

1. Enter a name for the handler, choose the data centers to bring in under **Import IBM Cloud datacenters**, then select **Done**.

## Import data centers

Each data center you import becomes a CMP environment, and CMP records the data center on that environment. To add more after the handler exists, open the **Datacenters** tab and select **Import datacenters**.

The tab also lets you create an extra environment in an imported data center.

## Network configuration

Importing a data center does not attach its networks to the environment. After importing:

1. On the **Datacenters** tab, select an environment.
1. Open the **Networks** tab and select **Edit**.
1. Add the networks for that data center, then select **Save**. Include at least one PRIVATE network, or provisioning into the environment fails.

## IBM Cloud parameters

The following imported parameters appear on the order form for the environment:

| Parameter | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Domain Name** | Required. The domain the new server belongs to in IBM Cloud. |
| **IBM Instance type** | Required. The instance type to provision, which sets the server's size. |

## IBM Cloud for Government

IBM Cloud for Government is a separate technology in the picker, listed under **Gov Cloud** rather than Public Cloud.

Add it the same way, with the same classic infrastructure API key fields, then import data centers and attach networks as above.

## Related

- [Resource handlers](/docs/cmp/configure/infrastructure/resource-handlers/): the technologies CMP connects to, and how to add one.
- [Environments](/docs/cmp/configure/infrastructure/environments/): what CMP creates for each data center you import.
- [Networks](/docs/cmp/configure/infrastructure/networks/): how CMP models the networks you attach here.
- [Use password vaults](/docs/cmp/configure/access-and-security/security/use-password-vaults/): storing the API key in HashiCorp Vault, CyberArk, Keeper, AWS Secrets Manager, or Azure Key Vault.