# Getting Started

Log in to the <code class="expression">space.vars.product\_acronym</code> UI and click on the Kubernetes menu entry:

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/SNWOoFOMzRblbHdwmlrR/blobs/J6UbJaI4ajGIcmnQ2HVd/image.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you have logged in for the first time, you will see a getting-started page. Click on the Create New Cluster button to start creating your first cluster.

The cluster creation process provides you with a form to provide the details of your Kubernetes cluster. Let's look at those details:

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/SNWOoFOMzRblbHdwmlrR/blobs/4E6LKfK7wkgs8eBw9ag4/mhwt6h0h037sf23jjy3nic8k2hnz6i5xnvqdjwgsb28twsb4ui9oz9c1s3jwtwlu.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* **Cluster Architecture**
  * This section provides details on the resource capacity available in your tenant, which will help you estimate the number of Kubernetes Worker node VMs you can create.
* **Server, Storage, and Network**
  * This section lets you configure your node groups. Node groups are logical entities that let you create a template for a set of Kubernetes worker nodes. Each node group can be configured to have a defined number of nodes with Networking and Storage properties.
    * Note: This release of PCD uses the default Storage configured for the VMs in the PCD. Storage configuration will be enabled in the future.
  * [Auto-scaling](https://cluster-api.sigs.k8s.io/tasks/automated-machine-management/autoscaling): <code class="expression">space.vars.product\_acronym</code> deploys a Kubernetes Cluster auto-scalar for each cluster in <code class="expression">space.vars.product\_acronym</code> management plane. You can enable/disable and configure the maximum number of nodes to which the node group can scale.

{% hint style="info" %}
For Virtual Machine based clusters, Kubernetes version upgrades and other operations are performed by creating a new set of Nodes and recycling the old Nodes.

Therefore it is recommended to create enough Nodes in the cluster to safely perform these kind of operations and reduce the impact of a single Node being replaced.
{% endhint %}

* **Configure your Cluster**
  * Choose the Kubernetes Version for your cluster.
  * Choose which add-ons you want to enable or disable. <code class="expression">space.vars.product\_acronym</code> Kubernetes supports 2 types of add-ons
    * Core Add-ons
      * The add-ons are critical to the functionality of your Kubernetes cluster, including CNI, CoreDNS, and more.
    * Other Add-ons
      * These are add-ons supported and managed by PCD to extend Kubernetes capabilities and provide services such as load balancing.
      * This release of PCD Kubernetes Clusters supports only [MetalLB](https://metallb.io/).
      * Note: PCD only deploys MetalLB controllers on the Kubernetes Cluster, and you still have to [configure MetalLB](https://metallb.io/usage/example/) after the cluster is created.

Provide a name for the cluster, then click the **Deploy Cluster** Button. It usually takes 5-10 minutes to bring the complete cluster up, but it can take longer based on the number of node groups and worker nodes configured.

You can select a cluster from the Clusters list to dive deeper into its details.


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