Looker (Google Cloud core) provides simplified and streamlined provisioning, configuration, and management of a Looker instance from the Google Cloud console. Some instance administration tasks may also be performed from the console.
Looker (Google Cloud core) instances are hosted by Google in the Google Cloud. Looker (Google Cloud core) is not available for customer-hosted or multicloud environments.
Looker (Google Cloud core) features
Most Looker (Google Cloud core) functionality is the same as Looker (original) functionality, with a few differences. Learn about Looker (Google Cloud core) features compared to Looker (original), and by edition and network connection.
Functionality that is specific to Looker (Google Cloud core) is documented in the Looker (Google Cloud core) documentation. Functionality that is shared between Looker (Google Cloud core) and Looker (original) is documented in the Looker (original) documentation.
Looker (Google Cloud core) editions
Looker (Google Cloud core) is available in several editions. Each edition type offers different functionality and has different pricing. When you create a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance, you choose the edition that meets your needs. Edition type cannot be changed after instance creation.
Standard edition
The Standard edition is tailored for small teams and small or medium-sized businesses with up to 50 internal platform users. In addition to many existing Looker (Google Cloud core) features, the Standard edition brings new functionality, which includes the following:
- Google Cloud Identity access management and simplified BigQuery connectivity
- Support for up to 1,000 Query-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month and 1,000 Admin-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month
A Standard edition can be purchased through an annual contract.
Enterprise edition
The Enterprise edition includes all the features of the Standard edition as well as supporting:
- Unlimited users
- Additional security features such as VPC-SC, Private IP, and Private Service Connect
- More robust monitoring through the Elite System Activity feature
- 100,000 Query-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month and 10,000 Admin-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month
An Enterprise edition can be purchased through an annual contract.
Embed edition
The Embed edition includes all the features of the Enterprise edition as well as offering:
- Signed embedding
- A private label option
- Custom themes
- 500,000 Query-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month and 100,000 Admin-related Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls per month
An Embed edition can be purchased through an annual contract.
Set up and administer the Looker (Google Cloud core) instance
Before you can explore data, you must create and configure a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance. The process for setting up a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance is as follows:
- Ensure that you have the proper Google Cloud console set up by checking the instance creation prerequisites.
- Create a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance.
- Set up a database connection.
- Write LookML.
- Add users.
- Retrieve and chart data.
- Administer the instance from the Google Cloud console and from the Looker (Google Cloud core) instance.
Use the Google Cloud CLI
Throughout the Looker (Google Cloud core) documentation, there are instructions for using the Google Cloud CLI. Install the gcloud CLI to run gcloud CLI commands.
Additionally, refer to the gcloud CLI reference documentation for information about using these commands with Looker (Google Cloud core).
Use Terraform
You can use Terraform to execute some Looker (Google Cloud core) administrative tasks. See the Terraform on Google Cloud documentation for more information about how to provision infrastructure on Google Cloud using Terraform. If you are provisioning resources through the Terraform Google Cloud provider, use version 4.75.0 .
Use the Looker (Google Cloud core) API
View the Looker (Google Cloud core) Admin API reference for information on Looker (Google Cloud core) endpoints for Google Cloud console functionality.
View the Looker API documentation for information on using the API for functionality within a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance.
Types of Looker (Google Cloud core) API calls
The types of API calls that are defined as query API calls are as follows:
- Calls that are required for automated query pipelines
- Calls that get data from the client database
- Calls that run SQL queries or grab results for content
Examples include the following:
The types of API calls that are defined as admin API calls are as follows:
- Calls that are required to build applications, control content across instances, and perform administrative tasks
- Calls that control the Looker (Google Cloud core) instance
- Calls that perform content management, permission and user management, instance administration, or pulling content across folders
Examples include:
There are also other types of API calls, which are ignored for metering purposes, that include calls that perform login, logout, and user authentication tasks.
Release notes and process
Release notes for Looker (Google Cloud core) can be found on the Looker release notes page. To learn about the Looker (Google Cloud core) release process, visit the Looker (Google Cloud core) release overview documentation page.
Pricing
See the Looker (Google Cloud core) pricing page for details about pricing.
Staging environments and testing
If you're interested in using a staging instance, you can create a new instance using the standard process for creating a Looker (Google Cloud core) instance. The billing for this staging instance will be the same as for any other Looker (Google Cloud core) instance. See the Looker (Google Cloud core) pricing page for more details.
Support
For support with your Looker (Google Cloud core) instance, see the Getting support for Looker (Google Cloud core) documentation page.