> ## 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-1dce587a/KB6u5PJRNHAXrgro/images/heros/clusters-create-light.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=KB6u5PJRNHAXrgro&q=85&s=2cb78e8d5c718de5ffadb0ee8bc61e53" 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-1dce587a/KB6u5PJRNHAXrgro/images/heros/clusters-create-dark.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=KB6u5PJRNHAXrgro&q=85&s=99e0b5357b3c2687ad558ef007117c40" 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 of up to 100 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="Choose worker support">
    Select one **Worker support** option:

    * **Linux workers**: The recommended default for standard workloads.
    * **Linux and Windows workers**: Use this option when the cluster must run Windows workloads. The cluster still requires at least one Linux worker for system workloads.

    You can't change worker support after you create the cluster. Click **Continue**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and start provisioning">
    Review the workspace, cluster name, region, and worker support. 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>