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PolarDB:Create a database cluster

Last Updated:Mar 28, 2026

This topic describes how to create a PolarDB for PostgreSQL cluster in the PolarDB console. Choose the edition and billing method that fits your workload, then follow the corresponding setup guide.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you have:

  • An Alibaba Cloud account registered and logged in to the PolarDB console

  • A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in the target region — PolarDB for PostgreSQL does not support the classic network

Deploy your PolarDB cluster and Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances in the same VPC. If your ECS instance is on the classic network, migrate it to a VPC before creating the cluster.

Choose an edition

PolarDB for PostgreSQL is available in three editions. Use the table below to find the one that fits your workload.

EditionArchitecture
Enterprise EditionOne primary node + up to 15 read-only nodes; active-active high availability requires at least one read-only node
Standard EditionOne primary node + up to 15 read-only nodes; active-active high availability requires at least one read-only node
Distributed EditionCompute node (CN) and data node (DN) two-layer architecture; decouples compute and storage for horizontal scaling
Each node is a virtual database server. You can create and manage multiple databases on a single node.

Create a cluster

Select your edition and billing method, then follow the corresponding guide.

Enterprise Edition

Standard Edition

Distributed Edition

API reference

APIDescription
CreateDBClusterCreates a PolarDB cluster
DescribeDBClustersQueries PolarDB clusters
DescribeDBClusterAttributeQueries the information about a PolarDB cluster
DescribeAutoRenewAttributeQueries the auto-renewal feature status for a subscription PolarDB cluster
ModifyAutoRenewAttributeConfigures the auto-renewal feature for a subscription PolarDB cluster

References