> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.akua.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a Managed Cluster

> Start provisioning a managed Kubernetes control plane for your workers

<Frame>
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/akua-0b861dc6/o-ywDlh24ZayP_tj/images/heros/clusters-create-light.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=o-ywDlh24ZayP_tj&q=85&s=d2fb5b942117029024d891f9366c2e5f" alt="A new cluster: Akua's managed control plane comes online in your chosen region, with empty worker slots awaiting machines" width="1536" height="864" data-path="images/heros/clusters-create-light.svg" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/akua-0b861dc6/o-ywDlh24ZayP_tj/images/heros/clusters-create-dark.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=o-ywDlh24ZayP_tj&q=85&s=293294448b4e76ab0e653ba00f7b5b8c" alt="A new cluster: Akua's managed control plane comes online in your chosen region, with empty worker slots awaiting machines" width="1536" height="864" data-path="images/heros/clusters-create-dark.svg" />
</Frame>

Create a managed Kubernetes cluster when you want Akua to operate the <Tooltip headline="Control Plane" tip="The control plane is the management layer of a Kubernetes cluster. It manages cluster state, schedules workloads, and handles API requests.">control plane</Tooltip> and you plan to connect your own servers as workers.

This task is for workspace members who need a new managed control plane. If you already operate a complete Kubernetes cluster, [import the existing cluster →](/clusters/import) instead. If you already have a managed cluster and want to connect a server, [add a worker →](/clusters/add-workers).

## Prerequisites

* A workspace in Akua.
* Access to the [clusters dashboard](https://akua.dev/clusters).

## Create the managed cluster

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open managed-cluster creation">
    In the [clusters dashboard](https://akua.dev/clusters), click **Create managed cluster**. The **Details** step opens.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter cluster details">
    Enter the two details for the managed control plane:

    * **Cluster name**: Enter a name from 2 to 32 characters.
    * **Region**: Select the region that will contain the cluster.

    If the region doesn't exist, enter its name in the inline **Create a region** field and click **Create region**. The inline form asks only for the region name and selects the new region after creating it.

    Click **Continue**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and start provisioning">
    Review the workspace, cluster name, and region. Click **Create managed cluster** to submit the request.

    <Success>
      **Cluster provisioning started** means Akua accepted the request. Provisioning continues in the background, so this result doesn't mean the cluster is ready. Open the cluster to follow its status.
    </Success>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## API

Manage clusters programmatically.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Clusters API reference" icon="book" href="/api-reference/clusters/list-clusters">
    Endpoints, parameters, response shapes, and try-it playground.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/apis/authentication">
    Mint API tokens for programmatic access.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Related topics

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add workers" icon="server" href="/clusters/add-workers">
    Connect compute capacity to run your applications.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Import an existing cluster" icon="arrow-right-to-bracket" href="/clusters/import">
    Connect a Kubernetes cluster you already operate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Clusters overview" icon="circle-info" href="/clusters">
    Understand how clusters work in Akua.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Regions" icon="globe" href="/clusters/regions">
    Organize clusters into regions for customers.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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