Before you use Image Search, you must activate Image Search. This topic describes how to activate Image Search.
Prerequisites
An Alibaba Cloud account is created. To create an Alibaba Cloud account, go to Sign up to Alibaba Cloud.
Real-name verification for an individual or an enterprise is completed. To perform real-name verification, go to Account Verification.
An AccessKey pair is obtained. For more information, see Obtain an AccessKey pair.
Procedure
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud international site (alibabacloud.com).
Go to the product landing page of Image Search. Click Buy Now.
On the buy page, specify the following parameters and click Buy Now.
Parameter
Description
Region
The region in which the Image Search instance is deployed. Only the Singapore, China (Hong Kong), Japan (Tokyo), and Germany (Frankfurt) regions are supported on the Alibaba Cloud international site (alibabacloud.com).
ImportantYou cannot change the region after you purchase the instance. Proceed with caution.
Search Type
The service type. Image Search provides multiple service types. Valid values:
Product Search
This service is suitable for scenarios in which similar products are searched or products are recommended based on product images on e-commerce platforms. You can upload a product image to search for products that are similar or identical to the product in your image.
Generic Search
This service is suitable for scenarios in which you expect to protect image copyrights or search for similar images. You can upload an image to search for images that include subjects or elements similar or identical to those included in your image.
ImportantYou cannot change the service type after you purchase the instance. Proceed with caution.
Queries/sec
The maximum number of image search requests that can be sent to Image Search every second. A higher queries per second (QPS) indicates that Image Search can process more requests every second. For example, if you select 5 Queries/sec, Image Search can process up to five image search requests every second. By default, Image Search can process up to 20 requests to delete images every second. For more information, see the QPS section of the "Basic Concepts" topic.
Capacity
The maximum number of images among which you can run searches. For more information, see the Maximum image capacity section of the "Basic Concepts" topic.
NoteFor product image searches, this parameter specifies the maximum number of images instead of the number of products.
Instance Name
Required. The name of the instance. The instance name must meet the following requirements:
The instance name contains lowercase letters and digits.
The instance name starts with a letter.
The name is 4 to 20 characters in length.
If a message appears to indicate that the instance name is invalid, check whether the instance name is specified. If the instance name is specified, check whether the format of the instance name meets the preceding requirements.
ImportantYou cannot modify the instance name after you purchase the instance. Proceed with caution.
Duration
The validity period of the Image Search instance that you purchase.
Auto-renewal
If you enable auto-renewal, the system automatically deducts the renewal fee to renew the instance nine days before the instance expires.
ImportantIf the system fails to deduct the renewal fee, the instance is not renewed and automatically released after it expires.
On the Confirm Order page, confirm the order information, read and select Terms of Service, and then click Pay.
Click Console to go to the Overview page. After the instance is created, you can use Image Search.