Create a VM Cluster

This topic describes how to create a VM Cluster in Oracle Base Database Cloud@Customer.

Prerequisites

An active Data Infrastructure to create a VM Cluster.
An active and validated VM Network to create a VM Cluster.
SSH public key.

To connect to the VM Cluster, you use an SSH public key.

The public key is in OpenSSH format, from the key pair that you plan to use for connecting to the VM Cluster through SSH. The following shows an example of a public key, which is abbreviated for readability.
```
ssh-rsa AAAAaC1yBJQAAlo/gKMLVJr/Hc26b1OQ== rsa-key-20260106
```

Procedure

Perform the following steps in the Console.

On the Data Infrastructures list page, select the Data Infrastructure that you want to work with. If you need help finding the list page or the Data Infrastructure, see List Data Infrastructures.
On the Data Infrastructure details page, select the VM Clusters tab to view the list of all VM Clusters.
On the VM Clusters tab, select Create VM Cluster.
On the Create VM Cluster page, provide the following details.
- Display name: The display name is a user-friendly name that you can use to identify the VM Cluster. The name doesn’t need to be unique, because an Oracle Cloud Identifier (OCID) uniquely identifies the VM Cluster.
- Compartment: From the list of available compartments, select the compartment that you want to contain the VM Cluster. By default, the current compartment is selected.
- Data Infrastructure Cloud@Customer:
  - Compartment: From the list, select the compartment that contains your Data Infrastructure. By default, the current compartment is selected.
  - Data Infrastructure Cloud@Customer: From the list, select your Data Infrastructure to host the VM Cluster.
- VM Cluster configuration:
  - Database edition: The database edition supported by the VM Cluster. The database edition cannot be changed later.
  - Number of VMs in the cluster: Provide the number of VMs required in the VM Cluster.
- Network settings:
  - Compartment: From the list, select the compartment that contains your VM Network. By default, the current compartment is selected.
  - VM Network: From the list, select the VM Network to host the VM Cluster.
  - ECPUs: Displays the total number of ECPU cores allocated to the VM Cluster.
  - Memory per VM: Displays the total amount of memory for each individual VM in the VM Cluster.
- Grid Infrastructure configuration:
  - Grid Infrastructure release: Select the Oracle Grid Infrastructure release.
    
    The selected Oracle Grid Infrastructure release determines which Oracle AI Database versions are supported on the VM Cluster. You cannot provision an Oracle AI Database version that is newer than the selected Grid Infrastructure version. For example, to provision an Oracle AI Database 26ai, you must select the Grid Infrastructure 26ai release.
  - Grid Infrastructure version: Select the Oracle Grid Infrastructure version.
- Storage configuration:
  - VM storage:
    - /u01 (GB): Storage size in GB.
  - Database storage
    - Data storage (GB): Storage size in GB.
    - Recovery Area storage (GB): Storage size in GB.
- Add SSH key: Add the public key portion of each key pair you want to use for SSH access. Select one of the following options.
  - Generate SSH key pair: Use this option to create a new SSH key pair. Select both Save private key and Save public key when using this option. The private key is downloaded to your local system and must be stored in a safe location. You cannot download another copy of the private key generated during this operation after completing the operation.
  - Upload SSH key files: Select this option to browse or drag and drop your existing public key (.pub) files.
  - Paste SSH keys: Select this option to paste in individual public keys. To paste multiple keys, select + Another SSH key and supply a single key for each entry.
- License type: The type of license you want to use for the VM Cluster. Your choice affects metering for billing.
  - License included means the cost of this OCI Database service resource will include both the Oracle AI Database software licenses and the service.
  - Bring Your Own License (BYOL) means you will use your organization’s Oracle AI Database software licenses for this OCI Database service resource. For more information, For more information, see Oracle Bring Your Own License FAQ and Oracle Cloud Pricing.
- Advanced options: Expand to provide additional details.
  - Management: Expand to provide additional details.
    - Select the time zone: The default time zone for the Data Infrastructure is UTC, but you can specify a different time zone. The time zone options are those supported in both the Java.util.TimeZone class and the Oracle Linux operating system. The following options are available:
      - UTC: configures to use coordinated universal time.
      - Browser-detected: The Console displays the time zone detected by your browser for this option.
      - Select another time zone: To manually specify a time zone, first make a choice using the Region or country selector to select a geographic region, then use the Time zone selector to select your required time zone. If you do not see the time zone you want, try selecting “Miscellaneous” in the Region or country list.
  - Cloud automation update: Oracle periodically applies updates to the database tools and agent software required for cloud tooling and automation. You can configure a preferred time window for applying these updates to a VM Cluster.
    
    Oracle checks daily for available VM Cluster cloud automation updates during the configured time window and applies them when applicable. If Oracle cannot begin applying an update within the configured time window because of an underlying long-running process, it checks again during the configured time window on the following day.
    - Daily timeslot to apply update begins at: Specify a time for the daily update to begin.
    - Daily timeslot to apply update ends at: Specify a time for the daily update to end.
    - Enable early access for cloud tools update: Turn on this option to enable early access for the VM Cluster. VM Clusters designated for early access receive updates one week before the updates are available to other VM Clusters.
    - Cloud Automation Update Freeze Period: Oracle periodically applies updates to the database tools and agent software necessary for cloud tooling and automation. Enable a freeze period to define a time window during which Oracle automation will not apply cloud updates.
      - Configure freeze period: Turn on to enable the freeze period. A freeze period can extend for a maximum of 45 days from the start date. Oracle automation applies updates that contain critical security fixes with a CVSS score of 9 or higher, even during a configured freeze period.
      - Freeze period start date: Select the start date. The freeze period begins at 12:00 AM UTC on this date.
      - Freeze period end date: Select the end date. The freeze period ends at 11:59 PM UTC on this date.
  - Tags: Expand to provide additional details. You can add free-form tags or defined tags to this resource. You must have permission to use the tag namespace for defined tags. For more information about using tags to manage your resources, see Tags. Tags can be applied later or at any time to a resource.
Select Create.

The VM Cluster details page is now displayed. While the creation process is running, the state of the VM Cluster is Pending. When the VM Cluster creation process completes, the state of the VM Cluster changes to Available.