SETUP GUIDES · AI MODELS
Google Vertex AI service account
Use Gemini through Vertex AI in your own Google Cloud project.
Vertex AI is Google Cloud’s enterprise way to use Gemini, billed to your Cloud project. Claspine connects with a service account that is allowed to use Vertex AI and nothing else. If you just want a quick start, the Gemini API key guide is simpler.
Words you’ll see
- Service account
- In Google Cloud, an account for a program rather than a person. You give it one role and download a key file for it.
- Region
- The part of the world where the provider runs your service, such as us-east-1 (Virginia) or europe-west4 (Netherlands). Use the region where you set things up.
- Model
- The specific AI you call (for example a fast, cheap one or a larger, smarter one). Claspine’s AI Gateway lets you choose models and fall back to another if one fails.
Before you start
- A Google Cloud project with billing turned on, and the Vertex AI API enabled (APIs & Services → Library → Vertex AI API → Enable).
Steps
- Open IAM & Admin → Service accounts and click Create service account. Name it
spine-vertex. - When asked for a role, choose Vertex AI User and nothing else, then finish.
- Open the new service account, go to Keys → Add key → Create new key, choose JSON and create it. A small file downloads to your computer.
- Open the file with any text editor and copy everything in it.
- In Claspine, open AI Gateway → Your AI provider keys → Google Vertex AI → Add key, paste the whole file content, type a region (for example
us-central1oreurope-west4) and save. - Delete the downloaded file from your computer; Claspine now keeps it encrypted.
- In AI Gateway, add a step with this provider and pick a model.
What goes where in Claspine
| Console field | Value |
|---|---|
| SERVICE ACCOUNT KEY (JSON) | Everything inside the downloaded .json file. |
| REGION | A Vertex AI region, e.g. us-central1 or europe-west4. |
Keep it safe
- The key file is as sensitive as a password. Delete local copies after saving it in Claspine.
- Set a budget alert on the project’s billing account.
Claspine stores the values encrypted, never shows them again in full, and never sends them to your app or SDK.
If something goes wrong
- Google will not let you create a key.
- Your organization blocks service account keys (“Disable service account key creation” policy). Ask your Google Cloud admin for an exception for this project.