> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/create-data-center/use-canvas.md).

# Use the Canvas Mode

You can create a Virtual Machine (VM) using the **Canvas** mode from the left navigation panel or from the DCD home page.

## Option 1: From the left navigation panel

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
In the **DCD**, go to **Menu** > **Virtual Data Centers**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Set **Create mode** to **Canvas**.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** The label changes to **Create in Canvas**.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Create in Canvas** to create the data center and then configure structured and visualized setup for complex workloads.

![Select a creation mode](/files/KAP4y2kNr3rEsfTQnlO8)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Enter the following details:

* **Name:** Enter a name to identify your data center.
* **Location:** From the drop-down list, choose the physical location of the data center that hosts your infrastructure.
* **Description:** *(Optional)* Add information that describes the VDC.
* **Create default network security group:** Select the checkbox to associate a default security group with the data center. By default, a set of predefined security rules are applied to all VMs created in that respective data center. You can also later [<mark style="color:blue;">customize the rules</mark>](/cloud/security/network-security-groups/how-tos/modify-rules.md) and [<mark style="color:blue;">members</mark>](/cloud/security/network-security-groups/how-tos/set-user-privileges.md) of a default security group.

![Create a Data Center](/files/jltoclEqMA8EkBOdvQhU)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select **Create** to confirm.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** An empty data center is created immediately, available in your DCD dashboard in the **My Virtual Data Centers**, and can be opened in the **Workspace**. Drag and drop resources from the **Pallette** on the left to the **Workspace** to design your infrastructure, configure each resource, and **Provision** to deploy your designed infrastructure. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Configure a Data Center</mark>](/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/configure-data-center.md).
{% endhint %}

## Option 2: From the DCD home page

Alternatively, you can also create a data center using the following option:

1\. In the **DCD**, go to the **My Virtual Data Centers** section, and select **Canvas** from the **Create mode** drop-down list.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** The label changes to **Create in Canvas**.
{% endhint %}

2\. Follow the steps mentioned in [<mark style="color:blue;">Option 1: From the left navigation panel</mark>](#option-1-from-the-left-navigation-panel).

3\. Select **Create** to confirm.

![Create a VDC from the Dashboard](/files/AskOwVo0bZoMu3vJUJ8J)

## Next steps

After logging in to the DCD, you can scale your infrastructure capacity by modifying already provisioned instances exclusively through the **Canvas** mode. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Configure a Data Center</mark>](/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/configure-data-center.md).


---

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