Adding and using a Production Server

Production servers are already‑deployed physical servers where the operating system must remain untouched. Registering them in MetalSoft allows you to manage network ports without reinstalling or modifying the OS.

1. Create the Infrastructure

1. In the Admin UI, click your initials in the top‑right corner and open Infrastructure Designer.
2. Click Create Infrastructure.
3. Enter a name and label, select the site, then click Create.
4. Add the required Public or Private networks.
5. Deploy the infrastructure by clicking Deploy in the top‑right, then Deploy again at the bottom.
6. Note the Infrastructure ID from the browser address bar:
   • Example: /designer/infrastructures/159 → Infrastructure 159

2. Register the Production Server

1. In the Admin UI, click Servers on the left.
2. Click Add Server on the right.
3. In the pop‑up window:
   • Select the Site where the server is physically connected.
   • Choose the Server Vendor.
   • Change Registration Type to Production (in use).
   • Enter the Management Host, Username, and Password (BMC details).
   • Select the previously deployed Infrastructure.
   • (Optional) Select the OS Template already installed on the server.
4. If the BMC Redfish interface does not report LLDP information, click Add Interface Connection and manually specify the switch ports where the server is connected.
5. Click Add Server.

3. Connect the Server to the Infrastructure Network

1. Return to the Infrastructure Designer.
2. Drag from the dot on the Instance‑array to the network dot.
3. Select the appropriate network options.
4. Click Deploy to apply the configuration.

Notes and Lifecycle Considerations

• Production servers are tied to the infrastructure they are registered into.
• If the infrastructure is deleted, the production server must be removed manually:
  1. Go to Admin UI → Servers.
  2. Open the production server.
  3. Change its state from Used to Unavailable.
  4. Go to Advanced → Delete Server.
• To reuse the server in another infrastructure:
  1. Deploy the new infrastructure with the required networks.
  2. Register the server again as a Production server adding it to the new infrastructure.
  3. If the OS on the server is no longer needed and can be reused for other workloads, after the original infrastructure is deleted, the server can be re-registered as a normal server, after which it can be made available for use in other infrastructures. This would erase the disks and collect all the information like any normal server registration.