.. _Creating the Compute Cluster:

Creating the Compute Cluster
----------------------------

.. important:: Before creating a compute cluster, make sure the following requirements are met:

   #. All nodes of the compute cluster are connected to one or more networks that cover the three required traffic types: **VM external**, **VM private**, and **Compute management**.
   
   #. All nodes are connected to the same network with the **VM external** traffic type.

   #. High availability is enabled for the management panel.

To create the compute cluster, click **Create** on the **Compute** screen.

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On the **Configure compute cluster** panel, do the following:

#. In the **Nodes** section, select nodes from the list that will participate in the compute cluster and click **Next**.

   .. note:: Nodes used for management panel high availability are automatically selected to join the compute cluster. 

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   If the node network was not previously configured, click the cogwheel icon, configure networks for the node NICs in the new window, and click **Apply**.

#. In the **Virtual Management IP** section, specify the virtual management IP address that will be used to send management requests to compute services. This IP address must belong to the network with the **Compute management** traffic type (its CIDR is displayed next to the input field). Click **Next**.

   .. May be optional. Need to review later.

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#. In the **External network** section, select a physical network to connect the external virtual network to and specify its gateway. The subnet IP range in the CIDR format will be filled in automatically. Click **Next**.

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   .. note:: This network will appear in the list of existing virtual networks on the **VIRTUAL NETWORKS** tab.

#. In the **DHCP and DNS** section, enable or disable the built-in DHCP server and specify one or more allocation pools and DNS servers for the external virtual network. Click **Next**.

   .. note:: 

      #. With the DHCP server enabled, virtual NICs will be automatically assigned IP addresses from the external virtual network IP range or allocation pools. With the DHCP server disabled, virtual NICs will automatically be allocated IP addresses, but you will have to manually assign them inside guests. 

      #. If you do not specify allocation pools, IP addresses will be allocated from the entire IP range of the external virtual network.

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#. In the **Summary** section, review the the compute cluster configuration and click **Create cluster**.

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You can monitor the compute cluster deployment progress, which may take considerable time, on the **Compute** screen. Once the cluster is deployed, you can start managing it.

