[DOC-10355] Document major version selection in Dedicated (#18759)

* [DOC-10355] Document major version selection in Dedicated

---------

Co-authored-by: Mike Lewis <[email protected]>

src/current/cockroachcloud/cluster-overview-page.md

@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ The **Cluster configuration** panel displays the settings you chose during [clus
 |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Cloud     | The cluster's [cloud provider]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-2-select-the-cloud-provider). |
 | Plan type | The [plan type]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-1-start-the-cluster-creation-process) used to create the cluster.                                                           |
-| Region(s) | The cluster's [region(s)]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-3-configure-region-s-and-node-s).         |
-| Nodes     | The [number of nodes]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-3-configure-region-s-and-node-s) the cluster has and how many are live. |
+| Regions   | The cluster's [region(s)]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-3-configure-regions-and-nodes).         |
+| Nodes     | The [number of nodes]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-3-configure-regions-and-nodes) the cluster has and how many are live. |
 | Compute   | The cluster's [compute power per node]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-5-configure-cluster-capacity).         |
 | Storage   | The cluster's [storage per node]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-5-configure-cluster-capacity).         |
 

src/current/cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md

@@ -38,15 +38,15 @@ You do not need an account in the deployment environment you choose. The cluster
 
 {% include cockroachcloud/cockroachcloud-pricing.md %}
 
-## Step 3. Configure region(s) and node(s)
+## Step 3. Configure regions and nodes
 
-Select the region(s) and number of nodes for your cluster:
+Select the regions for your cluster and the number of nodes per region:
 
 1. In the **Regions** section, select at minimum one region. Refer to [CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }} Regions]({% link cockroachcloud/regions.md %}) for the regions where CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} clusters can be deployed. For optimal performance, select the cloud provider region in which you are running your application. For example, if your application is deployed in GCP's `us-east1` region, select `us-east1` for your CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster.
 
     A multi-region cluster contains at minimum three regions and can survive the loss of a single region. Refer to [Planning your cluster](plan-your-cluster.html?filters=dedicated) for the configuration requirements and recommendations for CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} clusters.
 
-1. Select the number of nodes:
+1. Select the number of nodes per region:
     - For single-region application development and testing on AWS or GCP, you can create a single-node cluster. Single-node clusters are not available on Azure.
     - For single-region production deployments, we recommend a minimum of 3 nodes. The number of nodes also depends on your storage capacity and performance requirements. See [Example](plan-your-cluster.html?filters=dedicated#dedicated-example) for further guidance.
     - For multi-region deployments, we require a minimum of 3 nodes per region. For best performance and stability, you should use the same number of nodes in each region.
@@ -56,12 +56,10 @@ Select the region(s) and number of nodes for your cluster:
 
         Currently, you can add a maximum of 150 nodes to your cluster. For larger configurations, [contact us](https://support.cockroachlabs.com/hc/requests/new).
 
-Click **Next: Capacity**.
-
 <a id="step-4-enable-vpc-peering-optional"></a>
 ## Step 4. Enable GCP VPC Peering (optional)
 
-You can use [GCP VPC peering]({% link cockroachcloud/network-authorization.md %}#gcp-vpc-peering) to establish a private connection between a GCP application and a CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster deployed on GCP. A separate VPC Peering connection is required for each cluster.
+For clusters deployed on GCP, you can use [GCP VPC peering]({% link cockroachcloud/network-authorization.md %}#gcp-vpc-peering) to establish a private connection between a GCP application and a CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster deployed on GCP. A separate VPC Peering connection is required for each cluster.
 
 If you don't want to enable VPC Peering, leave the default selection of **Use the default IP range** as is and click **Next: Capacity**.
 
@@ -81,10 +79,10 @@ You can use CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }}'s default IP range and si
         Custom IP ranges are temporarily unavailable for multi-region clusters.
         {{site.data.alerts.end}}
 
-1. Click **Next: Capacity**.
-
         After your cluster is created, refer to [Establish private connectivity]({% link cockroachcloud/connect-to-your-cluster.md %}#gcp-vpc-peering) to finish setting up VPC Peering for your cluster.
 
+1. Click **Next: Capacity**.
+
 ## Step 5. Configure cluster capacity
 
 {% capture cap_per_vcpu %}{% include_cached v23.1/prod-deployment/provision-storage.md %}{% endcapture %}
@@ -129,11 +127,12 @@ To change the hardware configuration after the cluster is created, see [Manage a
 
 See the [Example](plan-your-cluster.html?filters=dedicated#dedicated-example) for further guidance.
 
-
 Click **Next: Finalize**.
 
 ## Step 6. Enter billing details
 
+If you have not yet configured billing for your CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }} organization, follow these steps to configure it:
+
 1. On the **Finalize** page, verify your selections for the cloud provider, region(s), number of nodes, and the capacity.
 
         Once your cluster is created, see [Establish VPC Peering or AWS PrivateLink]({% link cockroachcloud/connect-to-your-cluster.md %}#establish-gcp-vpc-peering-or-aws-privatelink) to finish setting up VPC Peering for your cluster.
@@ -154,32 +153,35 @@ The cluster is automatically given a randomly-generated name. If desired, change
 
 ## Step 8. Select the CockroachDB version
 
-When you create a new cluster, it uses the [latest CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }} production release](https://www.cockroachlabs.com/docs/releases/cloud) by default. All clusters are then upgraded automatically to each subsequent patch release of their major version as it becomes available. To learn more, refer to [Upgrade Policy]({% link cockroachcloud/upgrade-policy.md %}).
+When you create a new CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster, it defaults to using the [latest CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }} production release]({% link releases/cloud.md %}) unless you select a release explicitly. Releases are rolled out gradually to CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }}. At any given time, you may be able to choose among two or more types of releases. In the list, releases are labeled according to their stability:
 
-Prior to the GA release of a new CockroachDB major version, a series of Beta and Release Candidate (RC) releases are made available for CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} as [Pre-Production Preview]({% link cockroachcloud/upgrade-policy.md %}#pre-production-preview-upgrades) releases. If available, the latest Pre-Production Preview release is listed as an option alongside the latest production release.
+- **Latest Stable**: The latest stable GA release is the default version and is suitable for production.
+- **Stable**: One or more stable releases may be listed at any given time. All listed releases that are not labeled **Pre-Production Preview** are stable releases suitable for production.
+- **Pre-Production Preview**: Prior to the GA release of a new CockroachDB major version, a series of Beta and Release Candidate (RC) releases may be made available for CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} as [Pre-Production Preview]({% link cockroachcloud/upgrade-policy.md %}#pre-production-preview-upgrades) releases. Pre-Production Preview releases are no longer available after the GA release of a major version.
 
-{{site.data.alerts.callout_danger}}
-Testing releases, including Pre-Production Preview releases, are provided for testing and experimentation only, and are not qualified for production environments and not eligible for support or uptime SLA commitments.
-{{site.data.alerts.end}}
+    {{site.data.alerts.callout_danger}}
+    Testing releases, including Pre-Production Preview releases, are provided for testing and experimentation only, and are not qualified for production environments and not eligible for support or uptime SLA commitments.
+    {{site.data.alerts.end}}
+
+To select a version for your cluster:
+
+1. Under **Cluster Version**, click **More versions**.
+1. Select the cluster version from the **Cluster version** list.
 
-If you install a Pre-Production Preview release, it will be upgraded to each subsequent beta or RC release automatically, before being upgraded to the GA and subsequent patch releases as they become available.
+After the cluster is created, patch releases within its major version are required and are applied automatically. If you install or upgrade to a Pre-Production Preview release, subsequent Pre-Production Preview patch releases, the GA release, and subsequent patches within the major version are applied automatically. To learn more, refer to the [CockroachDB Cloud Support and Upgrade Policy]({% link cockroachcloud/upgrade-policy.md %}).
+
+## Step 9. Finish creating the cluster
 
 Click **Create cluster**. Your cluster will be created in approximately 20-30 minutes.
 
 ## What's next
 
-To start using your CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }} cluster, see the following pages:
+To start using your CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster, refer to:
 
 - [Connect to your cluster]({% link cockroachcloud/connect-to-your-cluster.md %})
 - [Authorize users]({% link cockroachcloud/managing-access.md %})
 - [Deploy a Python To-Do App with Flask, Kubernetes, and CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.cloud }}]({% link cockroachcloud/deploy-a-python-to-do-app-with-flask-kubernetes-and-cockroachcloud.md %})
-
-If you created a multi-region cluster, it is important to carefully choose:
-
-- The right [survival goal](https://www.cockroachlabs.com/docs/{{site.current_cloud_version}}/multiregion-survival-goals) for each database.
-- The right [table locality](https://www.cockroachlabs.com/docs/{{site.current_cloud_version}}/table-localities) for each of your tables.
-
-Not doing so can result in unexpected latency and resiliency.  For more information, see the [Multi-Region Capabilities Overview]({% link {{ site.current_cloud_version}}/multiregion-overview.md %}).
+- For [multi-region clusters]({% link {{ site.current_cloud_version}}/multiregion-overview.md %}), learn how to reduce latency and increase resiliency by choosing the best [survival goal]({% link {{site.current_cloud_version}}/multiregion-survival-goals.md %}) for each database and the best [table locality]({% link {{site.current_cloud_version}}/table-localities.md %}) for each table.
 
 {% comment %}
 ### [WIP] Select hardware configuration based on performance requirements

src/current/releases/cloud.md

@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ Get future release notes emailed to you:
 
 {% include marketo.html formId=1083 %}
 
+## July 31, 2024
+
+<h3 id="2024-07-24-general-updates"> General updates </h3>
+
+- When creating a new CockroachDB {{ site.data.products.dedicated }} cluster, you can now [select the cluster's major version]({% link cockroachcloud/create-your-cluster.md %}#step-8-select-the-cockroachdb-version). The default option is the latest stable version. At any given time, you may be able to choose from additional stable releases or experimental [Pre-Production Preview]({% link cockroachcloud/upgrade-policy.md %}#pre-production-preview-upgrades) releases. Patch releases within a major version are applied automatically.
+
 ## July 19, 2024
 
 <h3 id="2024-07-19-general-updates"> General updates </h3>