# Create a workspace

Administrators create a workspace in the web interface, pick the project and the person, and let MainPath provision the VM.

> Source: https://www.mainpath.ai/en/docs/create-workspace/

Workspaces are created by administrators of the organization. Before you start, the organization needs at least one project and an active subscription; what the subscription covers is described on the [pricing page]({{< relref "/pricing" >}}). The person who will use the workspace must also have signed in to the workspace network with Tailscale at least once. MainPath checks this when you create the workspace. If the sign-in is missing, it shows a dialog with instructions, and the person first [sets up Tailscale]({{< relref "workspace-vm-tailscale" >}}).

## Creating the workspace

1. Open **Workspaces** in the sidebar and click **Add workspace**. The **New cloud workspace** dialog opens.
2. Choose the **Project** the workspace belongs to and, under **Assigned user**, the person who will work with it. You can add a **Description** if you like.
3. As **Operating system**, Ubuntu is currently the only option, and as **Machine size**, only Standard with 2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 100 GB storage is available. More operating systems and sizes are planned.
4. Under **AI credentials** you can pick stored API keys — several different providers, but only one account per provider. Rules and skills are always installed; with the selected keys the AI agent is preconfigured and started. Setup: [OpenAI]({{< relref "openai-credentials" >}}), [Anthropic]({{< relref "anthropic-credentials" >}}), [Google Gemini]({{< relref "google-gemini-credentials" >}}), [Mistral AI]({{< relref "mistral-credentials" >}}), and [Cursor]({{< relref "cursor-credentials" >}}).
5. Confirm the dialog. MainPath provisions the VM and shows the progress in a dialog. Afterwards the workspace appears as a card with its hostname and status.

Right after creation it can take a moment until the VM has an address. The **Connect** dialog points this out as long as the address is still missing.

## Starting and shutting down

Through the **More** menu on the workspace card you can **shut down** the workspace and **start** it again later. Only running workspaces count towards the workspace limit of your subscription. Shut down workspaces that nobody is using at the moment so that capacity becomes available for others.

Once the card shows the workspace with its hostname, continue with [Connect to your workspace]({{< relref "workspace-vm-access" >}}).