An instance uses only a private IP. Ensure that if the instance is deleted, its current private IP will not be automatically assigned to another instance. In the Console, what should you do?

To prevent a private IP from being automatically reassigned after an instance is deleted, you must make that IP static by reserving it. This ensures the IP address is held for your project, even if the associated instance is removed. Assigning a public IP doesn't affect the private IP's lifecycle. Reserving a new internal IP would give the instance a different IP, not preserve its current one. Instance metadata is for configuration and doesn't control IP address reservation.