docs/content/v2.20/yugabyte-platform/create-deployments/create-universe-multi-zone.md
YugabyteDB Anywhere allows you to create a universe in one geographic region across multiple availability zones using one of the cloud providers.
For specific scenarios such as creating large numbers of tables, high rates of DDL change, and so on, consider creating a universe with dedicated nodes for YB-Master processes. Refer to Create a universe with dedicated nodes for more details.
For information on modifying or scaling an existing universe, refer to Modify universe.
Before you start creating a universe, ensure that you performed steps applicable to the cloud provider of your choice, as described in Create cloud provider configuration.
To create a universe:
Navigate to Dashboard or Universes, and click Create Universe.
Enter the universe details. Refer to Universe settings.
To add a read replica, click Configure Read Replica. Refer to Create a read replica cluster.
Click Create when you are done and wait for the configuration to complete.
Specify the provider and geolocations for the nodes in the universe:
Enter a name for the universe.
Choose the provider configuration to use to create the universe.
Select the regions in which to deploy nodes. The available regions will depend on the provider you selected.
Specify the master placement for the YB-Master processes. Refer to Create a universe with dedicated nodes for more details.
Enter the number of nodes to deploy in the universe. When you provide the value in the Nodes field, the nodes are automatically placed across all the availability zones to guarantee the maximum availability.
Select the replication factor for the universe.
Configure the availability zones where the nodes will be deployed by clicking Add Zone.
Use the Preferred setting to set the preferred zone or region.
Specify the instance to use for the universe nodes:
Choose the CPU Architecture, either x86 (Intel) or AArch6 (ARM).
Choose the Linux version to be provisioned on the nodes of the universe.
This option only applies if you have selected an AWS, GCP, or Azure provider configuration. The available Linux versions are specified in the provider.
If you are performing an airgapped installation, you cannot use YBA-Managed Linux versions; you must use a custom image. Do the following before creating your universe:
Refer to Create cloud provider configuration.
Select the Instance Type to use for the nodes in the universe.
Specify the number and size of the storage volumes, and the storage type.
To enable public access to the universe, select the Assign Public IP option.
Enable the YSQL and YCQL endpoints and database authentication.
Enter the password to use for the default database admin superuser (for YSQL the user is yugabyte, and for YCQL cassandra). Be sure to save your password; the password is not saved in YugabyteDB Anywhere. For more information, refer to Database authorization.
By default, the API endpoints use ports 5433 (YSQL) and 9042 (YCQL). You can customize these ports.
Enable encryption in transit to encrypt universe traffic. Refer to Enable encryption in transit.
Enable encryption at rest to encrypt the universe data. Refer to Enable encryption at rest.
Choose the version of YugabyteDB to install on the nodes.
The access key is the SSH key that is created in the provider. Usually, each provider has its own access key, but if you are reusing keys across providers, they are listed here.
For AWS providers, you can assign an ARN to the nodes in the universe; this allows them to be seamlessly backed up without explicit credentials.
To use cron instead of systemd for managing nodes, you can disable systemd services. This not recommended.
{{< note title="cron-based support deprecated" >}}
cron-based universes will no longer be supported in YugabyteDB Anywhere v2025.2 and later.
{{< /note >}}
To customize the ports used for the universe, select the Override Deployment Ports option and enter the custom port numbers for the services you want to change.
Optionally, add configuration flags for your YB-Master and YB-TServer nodes. You can also set flags after universe creation. Refer to Edit configuration flags.
The instances created on a cloud provider can be assigned special metadata to help manage, bill, or audit the resources. You can define these tags when you create a new universe, as well as modify or delete tags of an existing universe. Refer to Create and edit instance tags.
After the universe is ready, its Overview tab should appear similar to the following illustration:
The Universes view allows you to examine various aspects of the universe: