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Node pools

A node pool is a group of identical worker nodes within a cluster. Your workloads run on the nodes in your pools. A cluster can have one pool or several, and you manage them all from the portal.

Exact sizing — no tiers

Section titled “Exact sizing — no tiers”

Aether has no fixed machine “tiers.” When you create a pool, you choose the exact size of every node in it:

  • vCPUs
  • Memory (GB)
  • Disk (GB)

Every node in a given pool is identical. If you need a different node size, create another pool.

Fixed vs autoscaling pools

Section titled “Fixed vs autoscaling pools”

A pool is one of two kinds, depending on the node-count range you set:

  • Fixed pool — a single node count (minimum equals maximum). The pool always runs exactly that many nodes. Best for steady, predictable workloads.
  • Autoscaling pool — a range (maximum greater than minimum). Aether automatically adjusts the node count within that range to match demand. Best for bursty or variable workloads.

The choice also affects how the pool is billed — fixed pools bill a flat monthly fee, while autoscaling pools bill hourly per node. See the Billing model for the details.

Managing pools from the portal

Section titled “Managing pools from the portal”

On a cluster’s Node Pools tab you can:

  • Add a pool — choose its size and whether it’s fixed or autoscaling. Aether provisions the new nodes and joins them to the cluster.
  • Scale a pool — change the node count (or the autoscaling range). Aether adds or removes nodes to match.
  • Delete a pool — Aether tears down all of the pool’s nodes and removes them from the cluster.

Learn more

Section titled “Learn more”