Create a PolarDB for MySQL cluster with preconfigured defaults using the Quick Purchase page in the PolarDB console. Cluster creation typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
For full control over every configuration option, use the Custom Purchase tab instead.
Prerequisites
An Alibaba Cloud account. For details, see Register and log on to an Alibaba Cloud account.
Logged on to the PolarDB console.
Step 1: Configure basic settings
Go to the Quick Purchase page of the PolarDB console. Configure the following settings. For any parameter not listed here, keep the default value.
Billing Method
Select a billing method:
| Billing method | Payment model | Specifications | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay upfront. Longer durations offer greater discounts. | Fixed | Consistent, long-term workloads |
| Pay-as-you-go | Postpaid. Charged based on actual resource usage. | Fixed | Development, testing, or flexible workloads |
| Serverless | Postpaid. PolarDB dynamically scales resources based on workload demand. | Auto-scaled | Fluctuating or unpredictable workloads |
You can switch the billing method after cluster creation. For more information, see Switch between billing methods.
Region
Select the region where you want to deploy the PolarDB cluster.
Deploy the PolarDB cluster in the same region as the Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance it will connect to. Cross-region communication is limited to the Internet, which degrades performance.
Database Engine
Select the MySQL version for the cluster:
MySQL 8.0.1
MySQL 8.0.2
For PolarDB for MySQL clusters, you can purchase only clusters that run MySQL 8.0. If you want to purchase a cluster that runs another MySQL version, click the Custom Purchase tab in the upper-left corner.
Database Edition
Select the cluster edition:
Enterprise Edition
Standard Edition
This parameter is required only when Billing Method is set to Subscription or Pay-as-you-go. For feature differences, see Differences between Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition.
Network Type
Select the VPC and vSwitch for the PolarDB cluster.
If you have a VPC that meets your network requirements, select that VPC and its associated vSwitch. For example, select the same VPC as your ECS instance.
If you have not created a VPC, use the default VPC and vSwitch.
Deployment Mode (optional)
Choose the number of nodes and the corresponding high-availability (HA) mode. This parameter is required only when Billing Method is set to Subscription or Pay-as-you-go. For more information, see High-availability mode (hot standby storage cluster).
| Deployment mode | Nodes | Hot Standby Storage Cluster | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-node Deployment | 1 (primary only) | Disabled | Contains only one primary node. |
| Dual-node Deployment | 2 (1 primary + 1 read-only) | Disabled | Contains one primary node and one read-only node. |
| Cross-zone HA | 2 (1 primary + 1 read-only) | Enabled; Triple-zone Deployment with Strong Consistency: Off | Data is distributed across multiple zones. Both the primary and secondary zones store a full copy of the data. |
Node Type
Select the compute node specifications for the cluster. For additional specifications, click the Custom Purchase tab in the upper-left corner.
Storage Capacity (optional)
Set the storage capacity for the cluster.
This parameter is required only when Billing Method is set to Subscription or Pay-as-you-go and Database Edition is set to Standard Edition.
Step 2: Configure advanced settings (optional)
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Resource Group | Select a resource group. A resource group lets you manage related resources centrally. Each resource belongs to only one resource group. For more information, see Create a resource group. |
| Parameter Template | Select a custom or default system parameter template. The drop-down list displays all available parameter templates in the current region. |
| Time Zone | Set the time zone for the cluster. Default: UTC+08:00. |
| Table Name Case Sensitivity | Specify whether table names are case-sensitive. Select Not Case-sensitive (Default), or select Case-sensitive if your on-premises database uses case-sensitive table names (to facilitate data migration). |
The Table Name Case Sensitivity setting cannot be changed after the cluster is created. Configure this parameter carefully.
Step 3: Set the quantity and confirm the order
Review your configuration. Confirm that all settings -- including Billing Method, Region, Deployment Mode, and Resource Group -- meet your requirements.
Set the quantity. If Billing Method is set to Subscription, also specify the subscription duration and whether to enable Auto-renewal. > Note: > - You can create up to 50 clusters at a time, which is useful for scenarios such as deploying multiple game servers simultaneously. > - You can have a maximum of 50 clusters per Alibaba Cloud account. > - Enable Auto-renewal to prevent service interruptions caused by missed manual renewals.
Agree to the Terms of Service. Read and agree to the Alibaba Cloud Terms of Service and User Agreement.
Check the prices. Review the total price and the component prices for computing, storage, and network resources.
Pay the bill. On the Purchase page, confirm your order and payment method, then click Purchase.
Wait for the cluster to be created. After payment, wait 10 to 15 minutes, then check the Clusters page for your new cluster. > Note: > - If nodes in the cluster are in the Creating state, the cluster is still being provisioned. The cluster is ready when its status changes to Running. > - Make sure you have selected the correct region. Otherwise, the cluster will not appear in the list.
What's next
After your cluster is in the Running state, connect to it and start using it. For more information, see Connect to a database.