A cluster consists of one primary node and a maximum of 15 read-only nodes. To enable high availability through an active-active architecture, provision at least one read-only node. Each node is a virtual database server that can host multiple databases.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure that you have:
An Alibaba Cloud account with access to the PolarDB console. For details, see Register and log on to an Alibaba Cloud account.
A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in the target region. PolarDB for PostgreSQL (Compatible with Oracle) supports VPC only — the classic network is not supported.
Tip: For the best network performance, deploy your PolarDB cluster and Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances in the same VPC. If your ECS instance is in a classic network, migrate it to a VPC before creating the cluster.
Choose a billing method
Select a billing method before you start the creation wizard. The two methods differ in commitment level and configuration flexibility.
| Billing method | Best for | Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | Development, testing, or short-term workloads | None — billed by the hour; stop paying when you release the cluster |
| Subscription | Production workloads with predictable usage | Monthly or yearly term at a lower unit price |
Create a cluster
Follow the guide for your chosen billing method:
API reference
Use the following API operations to manage clusters programmatically.
| Operation | Description |
|---|---|
| CreateDBCluster | Creates a PolarDB cluster |
| DescribeDBClusters | Queries PolarDB clusters |
| DescribeDBClusterAttribute | Queries details about a PolarDB cluster |
| DescribeAutoRenewAttribute | Queries auto-renewal status for a subscription cluster |
| ModifyAutoRenewAttribute | Configures auto-renewal for a subscription cluster |