# Create a Data Center

IONOS Cloud offers two different data center creation modes to match your infrastructure needs. Select the approach that best fits your workflow:

* **DCXpress mode:** Provides a streamlined, guided workflow for rapid configuration of IaaS workloads. This mode walks you through the configuration of [<mark style="color:blue;">Virtual Machines</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#virtual-machine-vm), storage, and networking components step-by-step, making it ideal for quickly provisioning standard infrastructure setups.
* **Canvas mode:** Offers enhanced flexibility and control for designing and managing sophisticated infrastructure architectures. This mode is recommended when working with advanced configurations or complex, multi-component environments.

## Begin creating your data center

You can create your data center using either **DCXpress** mode or **Canvas** mode, accessible from the left navigation panel or the DCD home page.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Your mode selection becomes your default for future data center creation, but you can change it anytime from the drop-down list.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Prerequisites:**

* Make sure you have the corresponding permissions to create and manage data centers. By default, contract administrators and owners can create a data center.
* Only users with **Create Data Center** privilege can create a data center. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Set User Privileges for Data Center</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/set-user-privileges-data-center).
  {% endhint %}

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Use the Canvas Mode</strong></mark></td><td>Create a data center using the Canvas mode.</td><td><a href="create-data-center/use-canvas">use-canvas</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Use the Xpress Mode</strong></mark></td><td>Create a data center using the Xpress mode.</td><td><a href="create-data-center/use-xpress">use-xpress</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Which creation mode do I choose?

Select the mode that best fits your workflow and experience level:

| **Aspect**            | **DCXpress Mode**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | **Canvas Mode**                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Best for**          | Quick deployment, getting started, production-ready setups                                                                                                                                                                                        | Custom architectures, complex designs, iterative development                                                                                                                                            |
| **Workflow**          | **Single-guided form** with all configurations                                                                                                                                                                                                    | **Visual press-and-drag** into the Workspace with incremental setup                                                                                                                                     |
| **Configuration**     | **All-at-once:** VMs, storage, networking configured together                                                                                                                                                                                     | **Step-by-step:** Add and configure resources as needed                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Time to deploy**    | **Fastest:** Configure once, deploy immediately                                                                                                                                                                                                   | **Flexible:** Build at your own pace                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **Flexibility**       | **Structured wizard** with pre-defined options                                                                                                                                                                                                    | **Full creative control** over resource placement                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Learning curve**    | **Beginner-friendly** with guided messages in the DCD                                                                                                                                                                                             | **Requires familiarity** with cloud infrastructure concepts                                                                                                                                             |
| **Ideal use cases**   | <p>• <strong>Standard web servers</strong><br>• <strong>Application hosting</strong><br>• <strong>Quick testing environments</strong><br>• <strong>Template-based deployments</strong></p>                                                        | <p>• <strong>Multi-tier applications</strong><br>• <strong>Complex network topologies</strong><br>• <strong>Custom infrastructure designs</strong><br>• <strong>Experimental architectures</strong></p> |
| **When to choose**    | You know exactly what you need and want it running quickly                                                                                                                                                                                        | You need to plan, visualize, and refine your infrastructure layout                                                                                                                                      |
| **Can modify later?** | **Not with Xpress mode**, but you can add more elements using the **Workspace** after provisioning.                                                                                                                                               | **Yes**                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Provisioning**      | **Maintain an active browser session** during data center provisioning. The browser tab must remain open, and you must stay online until provisioning completes. A notification also prompts you to maintain your connection during this process. | **Provisioning occurs asynchronously in the background.** You can close the browser or navigate away from the page without interrupting the provisioning process.                                       |