> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sabaothcloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating a Service

> Create a managed PostgreSQL service in three steps

A service is a managed PostgreSQL instance. Creating one takes three steps: name and resources, version and backups, then review.

<Info>
  You need the Owner, Admin or Developer role to create a service, and your organization's plan must have room for it.
</Info>

## Start creating a service

Use any of these:

* On the dashboard, click **New Service** and choose **PostgreSQL**.
* In the sidebar, open **Postgres** and click **New Service**.
* Search for **New Postgres service** in the search bar.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sabaoth-cloud/SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf/images/new-service-dialog.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf&q=85&s=1042d3a9f4b89c1ae0259a80cb0b26e9" alt="The New Service dialog" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/new-service-dialog.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 1: Name and resources

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sabaoth-cloud/SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf/images/create-step-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf&q=85&s=3986b408807f33454d0197f381c55e8c" alt="Step 1: Name and Resources, showing remaining quota, presets and sliders" width="2880" height="2500" data-path="images/create-step-1.png" />
</Frame>

### Service name

Enter a **Service Name**. It must:

* Be 3 to 63 characters long
* Use lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens
* Start with a letter and end with a letter or number

For example: `orders-db`, `prod-db`, `analytics-db`.

### Remaining quota

The panel under the name shows what is left on your plan: **Service slots**, **CPU**, **Memory** and **Storage**. The sliders below never go past these limits.

### Quick presets

| Preset | CPU | Memory | Storage |
| - | - | - | - |
| **Small** | 1 vCPU | 1 GB | 5 GB |
| **Medium** | 2 vCPU | 4 GB | 20 GB |
| **Large** | 4 vCPU | 8 GB | 40 GB |

A preset that doesn't fit your remaining quota is greyed out and marked **Exceeds your remaining quota**.

### Customize allocation

Use the sliders to set exactly what you need:

| Setting | Notes |
| - | - |
| **CPU** | From 0.25 vCPU up to what your plan allows. |
| **Memory** | From 512 MB, in 512 MB steps. |
| **Storage** | From 1 GB. Storage can be increased later but never reduced. |
| **Replicas** | **Primary only**, or **1 primary + 2 standbys** for high availability. |

<Warning>
  Each replica is a full copy of the service, so a service with standbys uses three times the CPU, memory and storage shown on the sliders.
</Warning>

Click **Continue**.

## Step 2: Version and backups

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sabaoth-cloud/SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf/images/create-step-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf&q=85&s=418000749f61194a193bb8156c595df3" alt="Step 2: Version and Backups" width="2880" height="2200" data-path="images/create-step-2.png" />
</Frame>

**PostgreSQL version**: choose from 18, 17, 16, 15 and 14. The latest version is marked as recommended, and most services should use it.

**Automated backups**: on by default. Backups run daily during low-traffic hours and are kept for the retention period included in your plan. Point-in-time recovery is available within that window. You can change the schedule later on the service's [Backups](/dashboard/backups) tab.

Click **Continue**.

## Step 3: Review and create

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sabaoth-cloud/SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf/images/create-step-3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=SLIo1NiqFbpjv2jf&q=85&s=feea027bee3a91d45581f25a66bceda5" alt="Step 3: Review and Create, with a summary and the quota impact" width="2880" height="2200" data-path="images/create-step-3.png" />
</Frame>

Check the summary and the quota impact at the bottom, which shows how many services and how much storage your organization will be using afterwards. Click **Create Service**.

You are taken to the new service's overview page.

## While the service starts

A new service shows **Provisioning** while it is set up, which usually takes a couple of minutes. The page checks for updates every 15 seconds. Changes to the service are paused until it shows **Ready**.

If a service stays in one state much longer than expected, a banner says so, with **Refresh status**, **View logs** and **Contact support** options.

## If your plan doesn't have room

If the service is larger than what's left on your plan, the wizard explains which resource is short and offers two options:

* **Upgrade plan** opens the plan selection page.
* **Adjust resources** returns to step 1 so you can choose a smaller size.

You can also free up room by scaling down or deleting another service.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a database user" icon="user-plus" href="/dashboard/database-users">
    Add a login for your application.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect to the service" icon="plug" href="/dashboard/networking">
    Copy connection details and allow your IP address.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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