If a VM has 2 or fewer vCPUs, what is the maximum number of NICs it can have?

In Google Cloud, the limitations on virtual machines (VMs) regarding the number of network interface cards (NICs) depend on the configuration of the VM's virtual CPUs (vCPUs). For a VM with 2 or fewer vCPUs, the maximum number of NICs that it can support is limited to one.

This restriction exists primarily to ensure efficient resource allocation and network throughput. When VMs are configured with fewer vCPUs, they generally handle lower workloads, which correlates with the need for only a single NIC. Utilizing additional NICs on such VMs would not significantly enhance network performance or capability, making this constraint logical in terms of resource management.

When VMs are provisioned with more vCPUs, they can support more NICs. However, in this scenario, the capability is capped at one NIC for VMs with 2 or fewer vCPUs, making it essential for users to plan their VM configurations according to their performance and network needs.