Bare Metal Server
Overview
A Bare Metal server is a dedicated physical hosting solution without virtualization, offering maximum performance, full configuration freedom, and simplified management via the cloud platform. Ideal for critical environments, it combines raw power, security, and flexibility.
Key features
| Dedicated to a Customer | Each Bare Metal server is exclusively reserved for a single customer, ensuring optimal performance and complete confidentiality. |
| No virtualization layer | Eliminate the intermediate virtualization for a more direct computing experience and maximum use of hardware resources. |
| Installation of specific OS and applications | Enjoy total freedom to install specific operating systems and applications tailored to your unique business needs. |
| Hosted and managed by Cloud Avenue | Our expert team handles the hosting and full management of your Bare Metal server, allowing you to focus on your core business without worrying about the infrastructure. Choose Cloud Avenue’s Bare Metal service for a robust, flexible computing solution fully adapted to your specific requirements. |
Available models
Different models are available with multiple CPU and memory configurations, covering a large variety of use cases.
| Model | CPU | Cores | RAM | Disks |
| bms.gen11.Xsmall-A | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6534 3.9-4.2 GHz (8c/16T) | 8 | 256 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.Xsmall-B | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6534 3.9-4.2 GHz (8c/16T) | 8 | 512 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.Xsmall-C | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6534 3.9-4.2 GHz (8c/16T) | 8 | 768 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.small-A | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6526Y 2.8-3.9 GHz (16c/32T) | 16 | 256 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.small-B | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6526Y 2.8-3.9 GHz (16c/32T) | 16 | 512 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.small-C | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6526Y 2.8-3.9 GHz (16c/32T) | 16 | 768 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.medium-A | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (32c/64T) | 32 | 512 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.medium-B | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (32c/64T) | 32 | 1024 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.medium-C | 1x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (32c/64T) | 32 | 1536 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xl-A | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 1024 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xl-B | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 1536 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xl-C | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 2048 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xxl-A | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 2048 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xxl-B | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 3072 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
| bms.gen11.xxl-C | 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6548Y+ 2.5-4.1 GHz (64c/128T) | 64 | 4096 GB | 2x NVMe M.2 SSDs 480Gb in Raid 1 |
The 8-core configurations are perfectly suited for Oracle databases, optimizing the license cost-per-core, while the dual-socket XL and XXL models are particularly recommended for critical and intensive environments such as SAP HANA.
Legacy models
The models shown below are historical configurations, no longer available to order.
| BMS model | Generation | CPU & Cores | RAM & Disks | On-Demand RAM Upgrade |
| bms.hc1.XLarge | C5 HCI – SY480 Gen10 | 2 x Intel Gold 6248R 3.0GHz – 48c | 576 GB + 4 disks 1.92 TB | upgrade to 768 GB |
| bms.hp1.Medium | D3 HCI – SY480 Gen10 | 2 x intel Gold 5218 2.3GHz – 32c | 384 GB + 4 disks 1.92 TB | upgrade to 576 GB or 768 GB |
| bms.db1.Small | D1 HCI – SY480 Gen10 | 1 x intel Gold 5218 2.3GHz – 16c | 192 GB + 4 disks 1.92 TB | upgrade to 384 GB |
| bms.db1.XSmall | S1 – SY480 Gen10 | 2 x Intel Gold 5222 3.8 GHz – 8c | 192 GB + NVMe Disks | / |
Note that the bms.db1 models are specifically optimized for Oracle databases. Their configuration includes careful choices of CPU and cores, ensuring the best balance between license costs and processing power.
Available operating systems
The platform seamlessly installs operating systems according to your preferences, as confirmed during ordering. A limited set of versions for each operating system is offered, including one of the latest available releases. Our current selection includes premium options such as Windows Server, Red Hat Linux, Oracle Linux, and Red Hat OpenShift. These images are regularly updated to ensure the inclusion of the latest versions.
The images currently available are as follows:
| Name | Edition | Versions |
| Windows | Windows Server | 2019, 2022 |
| RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 8.6, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2 |
| Oracle | Oracle Linux | 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 |
| SLES | SUSE Linux Enterprise Server | 15 SP4,SP5 |
It is important to note that our BMS service does not support obsolete or unsupported operating system versions. This commitment to providing only the most recent options ensures optimal performance and security for our customers.
Storage
System disks
Gen11 BMS:
- Gen11 BMS servers have two local disks. The operating system is installed directly on these disks.
Gen10 BMS:
- Gen10 BMS servers do not have local disks; they rely on System LUN disks. The operating system is installed on these disks.
Each BMS server also has dedicated data disks connected via SAN storage, offering the following performance classes:
- System Disk via System LUN, Gen10 only
- Designed for OS installation, minimum orderable size of 100 GB
- Available performance classes:
- Gold: 1000 IOPS (for size ≤ 1 TB and scalable in IOPS/TB for size ≥ 1 TB)
- Platinum 3K: from 1000 to 30000 IOPS
- Platinum 7K: from 1000 to 70000 IOPS
- Data Disks, Gen10 & Gen11 (Data LUN)
- Intended for application data, with the option to add multiple units (subject to study and approval), minimum orderable size of 100 GB
- Available performance classes:
- Silver: from 60 to 6000
- Gold: 100 IOPS (for size ≤ 1 TB and scalable in IOPS/TB for size ≥ 1 TB)
- Platinum 3K: from 300 to 30000 IOPS
- Platinum 7K: from 700 to 70000 IOPS
LUNs ensure high-performance storage and increased flexibility, allowing customers to choose the capacity and performance suited to their specific needs.
Network Storage
A BMS has access to network storage like any VM. Through a change request, connectivity to a network storage area can be created for BMS servers.
The ordering features for BMS network storage from the shared storage portal are under development and will be available soon.
Network connectivity
Each BMS is connected to a specific T0 gateway, which is itself connected to your organization (your tenant).
Firewall rules, NAT rules, and other NSX features such as the Load Balancer apply to the BMS. It is important to note that the Distributed Firewall does not apply to BMS, as they operate outside the NSX perimeter.
During BMS installation, a private network is established. This network is configurable via the vCloud Director portal.
Server access
After the BMS is deployed, all essential information (such as the configuration IP address, root password, etc.) is sent to you via the customer portal.
BMS servers are accessible to you in several ways:
- Jump server: you can use an existing virtual machine already deployed in your environment or create a dedicated jump server. You can then access the BMS via a secure shell (SSH) or a remote desktop (RDP).
- SSL VPN access: Follow this tutorial to deploy and configure a free SSL VPN solution
- VPN provided by the T1: IPsec and L2VPN can be enabled on the Edge Gateway at no additional cost. For more configuration details, refer to IPSec VPN Configuration
Backup
Backup is performed using two methods:
- NetBackup agent: an agent is deployed in the BMS OS, and this agent is connected to Cloud Avenue’s standard backup infrastructure. It provides file-level backups only. Please note that the server’s boot area cannot be included in these backups.
- Local backup solution: installed by you or provided by the application hosted on the server (for example, RMAN for an Oracle server). Each server is configured with a primary storage space and a backup storage space. The backup storage space is supported by components physically independent from the primary storage space. A snapshot-based retention policy can be established via the shared storage portal. It is your responsibility to place the data exports to be backed up in this space. The storage used is the network storage space ‘mounted’ over NFS.
Pricing
The bare metal server (BMS) is billed as follows:
- The first month is billed pro rata, based on the number of days the server was made available to you.
- Full month billed for subsequent months
- No term commitment (for standard BMS)
Storage is billed on a dedicated-storage basis.
Ordering a BMS
Ordering a BMS is done via the cloud customer area (ECC), where a tile dedicated to BMS is offered during the ordering process.
The user can easily customize the BMS configuration by choosing the model, OS type, and hostname, offering a solution tailored to their specific needs.
BMS solution lifecycle
BMS service management is always performed from the customer area. The available requests are:
- Delete a BMS
- Start a BMS
- Stop a BMS
- Restart a BMS
- Reinstall the OS
- Add a BMS DATA LUN
- Increase a BMS DATA LUN
- Delete a BMS DATA LUN).