Setup a Virtual Server

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The user who creates the Server has full root or administrator access rights. A server, once provisioned, retains all its settings (resources, drive allocation, password, etc.), even after a restart at the operating system level. The server will only be removed from your virtual data center once you delete it in the DCD. For more information, see the Virtual Servers page.
Creating a Server
Prerequisites: Make sure you have the appropriate privileges. Only contract owners, administrators, or users with the Create Data Center privilege can set up a VDC. Other user types have read-only access and can't provision changes.
1. Drag the Server element from the Palette onto the Workspace.
The created server is automatically highlighted in turquoise. The Inspector pane allows you to configure the properties of this individual server instance.
Create a Server by dragging it onto the Workspace. Fill out the Inspector pane on the right with Server properties
2. In the Inspector pane on the right, configure your server in the Settings tab.
Name: Choose a name unique to this VDC.
​Availability Zone: The zone where you wish to physically host the server. Choosing A - Auto selects a zone automatically. This setting can be changed after provisioning.
CPU Architecture: Choose between AMD or Intel cores. You can later change the CPU type for a virtual server that is already running, though you will have to restart it first.
Cores: Specify the number of CPU cores. You may change these after provisioning. Please note that there are configuration limits.
RAM: Specify RAM size; you may choose any size between 0.25 GB to 240 GB in steps of 0.25 GB. This setting can be increased after provisioning.
SSH Keys: Select premade SSH Key. You must first have a key stored in the SSH Key Manager. Learn how to create and add SSH keys.
Ad-hoc Key: Copy and paste the public part of your SSH key into this field.
Adding a bootable drive
1.Drag a storage element (HDD or SSD) from the Palette onto a Server in the Workspace to connect them together. The highlighted VM will expand with a storage section.
2.Click the Unnamed HDD Storage to highlight the storage section. Now you can see new options in the Inspector on the right.
Storage type cannot be changed after provisioning.
Configuring Storage
1.Enter a name that is unique within your VDC.
2.Select a zone in which you want the storage device to be maintained. When you select A (Auto), our system assigns the optimal Zone. The Availability Zone cannot be changed after provisioning.
3.Specify the required storage capacity; the size can be increased after provisioning, even while the server is running, as long as this is supported by its operating system. It is not possible to reduce the storage size after provisioning.
You can select one of IONOS images or snapshots, or use your own. Only images and snapshots that you have access to are available for selection. Since provisioning does not require you to specify an image, you can also create empty storage volumes.
Authentication
1.Set the root or administrator password for your server according to the guidelines. This is recommended for both operating system types
2.Select an SSH key stored in the SSH Key Manager.
3.Copy and paste the public part of your SSH key into this field.
4.Select the storage volume from which the server is to boot by clicking on BOOT or Make Boot Device.
5.Provision your changes. The storage device is now provisioned and configured according to your settings.
Alternative Mode
When adding a storage element using the Inspector, select the appropriate check box in the Add Storage dialog box. If you wish to boot from the network, set this on the server: Server in the Workspace > Inspector > Storage.
It is recommended to always use VirtIO to benefit from the full performance of InfiniBand. IDE is intended for troubleshooting if, for instance, the operating system has no VirtIO drivers installed. In this case, Windows usually displays a "blue screen" when booting.
After provisioning, the Live Vertical Scaling properties of the selected image are displayed. You can make changes to these properties later, which will require a reboot. You can set the properties of your uploaded images before you apply them to storage volumes in the Image Manager.
(Optional) Add and configure further storage elements.
(Optional) Make further changes to your data center.
Provision your changes. The storage device is now provisioned and configured according to your settings.
Adding a CD-ROM drive
To assign an image and specify a boot device, you need to add and configure a storage element.
Click on CD-ROM to add a CD-ROM drive so that you can use ISO images to install and configure an operating system from scratch.
Set up a network by connecting the server to other elements, such as an internet access element or other servers through their NICs.
Provision your changes.
The server is available according to your settings.
Start, Suspend or Reset a Server
We maintain dedicated resources available for each customer. You do not share your physical CPUs with other IONOS clients. For this reason, the servers, switched off at the operating system level, still incur costs.
You should use the DCD to shut down virtual machines so that resources are completely deallocated and no costs are incurred. Servers deallocated this way remain in your infrastructure, while the resources are released and can then be redistributed.
This can only be done in the DCD. Shutting down a VM at the operating system level alone does not deallocate the resources or suspend the billing. Regardless of how the VM is shut down, it can only be restarted using the DCD.
A reset forces the server to shut down and reboot, but data loss may result.
Suspending a server
1. Choose a server. From the Settings tab in the Inspector, select Power > Suspend. The server is not deleted. This only suspends it and deallocates resources.
2. (Optional) In the dialog that appears, connect using Remote Console and shut down the VM at the operating system level to prevent data loss.
3. Confirm your action by checking the appropriate box and clicking Apply Suspend.
4. Provision your changes. Confirm the action by entering your password.
Inspector pane
Power State alert
The server is switched off. CPU, RAM, and IP addresses are released and billing is suspended. Connected storage devices will still be billed. Reserved IP addresses are not removed from the server. The deallocated virtual machine is marked by a red cross in DCD.
Starting a server
1. Choose a server. From the Settings tab in the Inspector, select Power > Start.
2. In the dialog box that appears, confirm your action by checking the appropriate box and clicking Apply STOP.
3. Provision your changes. Confirm the action by entering your password.
The server is booted. A new public IP address is assigned depending on the configuration. Billing is resumed.
Resetting a server
1. Choose a server. From the Settings tab in the Inspector, select Power > Reset.
2. (Optional) In the dialog that appears, connect using the Remote Console and shut down the VM at the operating system level to prevent data loss.
3. Confirm your action by checking the appropriate box and clicking Apply STOP.
4. Provision your changes. Confirm the action by entering your password.
Result: The server will shut down and reboot.
Scaling a Server
1. In the Workspace, select the required server and use the Inspector pane on the right.
If you want to make changes to multiple VMs, select the data center and change the properties in the Settings tab.
In this tab, you will find an overview of all assets belonging to the selected VDC. You can change cores, RAM, server status, and storage size without having to switch from VM to VM in the Workspace.
2. Modify storage:
(Optional) Create a snapshot of the system for recovery in event of problems.
3. In the Workspace, select the required server and increase the CPU size.
4. Provision your changes.
The CPU size is adjusted in the DCD. You must set the new size at the operating system level of your VM.
Deleting a Server
When you no longer need a particular server in your cloud infrastructure, you can remove it with a click of a mouse or keyboard, with or without the associated storage devices.
To ensure that no processes are interrupted and no data is lost, you should turn off the server before you delete it.
1. Select the Server in the Workspace
2. Right-click and open the context menu of the element. Select Delete.
2. You may also select the element icon and press the DEL key.
3. In the dialog that appears, choose whether you also want to delete storage devices that belong to the server.
4. Provision your changes
The server and its storage devices are deleted.
When you delete a server and its storage devices, or the entire data center, their backups are not deleted automatically. Only when you delete a Backup Unit will the backups it contains actually be deleted.
When you no longer need the backups of deleted VMs, you should delete them manually in the Backup Unit Manager to avoid unnecessary costs.
DCD How-Tos
Setup a Cloud Cube
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On this page
Creating a Server
Adding a bootable drive
Configuring Storage
Adding a CD-ROM drive
Start, Suspend or Reset a Server
Scaling a Server
Deleting a Server