# Configure a Data Center

Upon creating a data center, you can manually configure the IONOS Cloud infrastructure for each server using the [<mark style="color:blue;">palette and workspace</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/data-center-designer#palette-and-workspace) in the DCD. It comprises all the building blocks and the necessary resources required to configure, operate, and manage your products and services. You can also configure and manage multiple VDCs and configure settings for each server automatically.

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**Prerequisites:**

— Make sure you have the corresponding permissions to create and manage data centers. By default, contract administrators and owners can configure a data center.

— Only group users with **Edit** access to the data center resource can configure the data center. Users of a group added to a data center with only **Visible to Groups** access can only view the data center. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Add group to a resource</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/management/identity-access-management/user-management#add-group-to-a-resource).

— A data center must be created. To do so, follow the steps in [<mark style="color:blue;">Create a Data Center</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/create-data-center).
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## Configure a Dedicated Core Server

To configure your [<mark style="color:blue;">Dedicated Core Server</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#dedicated-core-server), follow these steps:

1. Drag the **Dedicated Core** server element from the palette into the workspace.
2. Enter the following details in the **Settings** tab of the Inspector pane:
   * **Name:** Enter a unique name for your server.
   * **Availability Zone:** Select a zone from the drop-down list to host the [<mark style="color:blue;">server</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#server) on the chosen zone.
   * **CPU Architecture:** Select either AMD or Intel cores.
   * **Cores:** Select the number of CPU cores.
   * **RAM:** Select any size starting from 0.25 GB to the maximum limit allotted to you. The size can be increased or reduced in steps of 0.25 GB. The maximum limit varies based on your [<mark style="color:blue;">contract resource limits</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/set-up-ionos-cloud/management/usage/resource-overview) and the [<mark style="color:blue;">chosen data center</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/set-up-ionos-cloud/account-management/dcd-default-settings). For more information about creating a full-fledged server, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Create a Dedicated Core Server</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/compute-services/compute-engine/how-tos/set-up-dedicated-core#create-a-dedicated-core-server).
   * **Network Security Groups:** Select one or more network security groups from the drop-down list to associate them with the Dedicated Core server. You can choose from any of the default or custom groups.

![Drag a Dedicated Core server element from the palette onto the workspace and configure its properties on the right](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c7acb21792e13cea534520051874bea0c33333b3%2Fcreating-server.png?alt=media)

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**Result:** The Dedicated Core Server is now created and can be updated based on your requirements.
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\## Add storage to the Dedicated Core Server

1. Drag a **Storage** element from the palette onto a **Dedicated Core** server in the workspace.
2. To configure your **Storage** element, enter the following details in the Inspector pane:

![Combining a Storage element with the Dedicated Core server in the workspace joins two elements](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0e489b01719b712901b364f8aa36e00d9667d73d%2Fstorage.png?alt=media)

* **Name:** Enter a storage name unique to the VDC.
* **Availability Zone**: Select a zone from the drop-down list to host the storage element associated with the server.
* **Size in GB:** Choose the required storage capacity.
* **Performance:** Select a value from the drop-down list based on the requirement. You can either select **Premium** or **Standard**, and the performance of your storage element varies accordingly.
* **Image:** Select an image from the drop-down list. You can select one of IONOS Cloud images or choose your own.
* **Password:** Enter a password for the chosen image on the server—a root or an administrator password.
* **Backup Unit:** Select a backup unit from the drop-down list. Click **Create Backup Unit** to instantly create a new backup unit if unavailable.

For more information about adding storage to the server, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Block Storage Overview</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/storage-and-backup/block-storage/overview).

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**Result:** The storage will now be added to your Dedicated Core Server.
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\## Connect to the internet

1\. Create a Network Interface Card ([<mark style="color:blue;">NIC</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#nic)) by clicking the `+` icon on the **Dedicated Core** server in the workspace and attach it to the **Internet** element. Alternatively, you can right-click the **Dedicated Core** server > **Actions** > **Add NIC** and then attach it to the **Internet** element.

2\. To configure your **NIC** element, enter the following details in the **Network** tab of the Inspector pane:

* **Name:** Enter a NIC name unique to this VDC.
* **MAC**: Media Access Control Address field is populated automatically upon provisioning and cannot be changed.
* **LAN:** The name of the LAN connected to internet is displayed. To select another LAN, click the drop-down list and select to move NIC to the LAN. A LAN that connects to the internet becomes a public LAN.
* **Firewall:** It is **Disabled** by default. Select a value from the drop-down list to configure your firewall settings. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">NIC-based Firewall</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/network-services/vdc-networking/firewall).
* **Network Security Groups:** Select one or more network security groups from the drop-down list to associate them with the Dedicated Core server. You can choose from any of the default or custom groups.
* **IPv4 Configuration**:
  * **Primary IP**: The primary IP address is automatically assigned by the IONOS Cloud DHCP server. You can, however, enter an IP address for manual assignment by selecting one of the reserved IP addresses from the drop-down list. Private IP addresses (according to RFC 1918) must be entered manually.
  * **DHCP**: It is often necessary to run a DHCP server in your virtual data center (e.g., PXE boot for fast rollout of VMs). If you use your own DHCP server, clear this check box so that the IONOS Cloud DHCP server does not reassign your IPs.
* **Add IP:** Select the IP address from the drop-down list.

For more information about network configuration, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Configure a Private LAN</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/network-services/vdc-networking/lan/how-tos).

![Connect your Dedicated Core server to the internet by configuring the Network settings in the Inspector pane](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8c1c86e2341f888419a358ddd1ee279bf7d881ac%2Fnetwork-connection.png?alt=media)

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**Result:** The data center will now be connected to the internet.
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\## Configure a private LAN

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**Note:** The LANs added here are private. To configure a public LAN, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Connect to the Internet</mark>](#connect-to-the-internet).
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1\. Double-click the `+` icon on the server. This creates an NIC connected to a private LAN.

2\. In the **LAN** tab of the Inspector pane, enter a unique name for the LAN, and optionally, you may update the LAN color.

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**Result:** The private LAN is successfully configured. A NIC IP is auto-generated, and the IP address is private.
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\## Provision Changes

1. Select **PROVISION CHANGES** in the Inspector pane to start the provisioning.
2. Review your changes in the **Validation** tab of the **Provision Data Center** window.
3. Confirm changes by entering your password. **Resolve** conflicts without a password.
4. When ready, select **Provision Now**.

![Finalize the setup by requesting that the resources are provisioned](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-acabeb0abc593101e15cca1a3ada3bd5a22774b9%2Fprovision.png?alt=media)

![Confirm by selecting Provision Now](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-562950f48272e01b044d89692e426f37a5d84ae7%2Fprovision-now.png?alt=media)

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**Result:** The data center will now be provisioned. DCD will display a **Provisioning Complete** notification when your cloud infrastructure is ready.
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You may configure the MAC and IP addresses once the resource is provisioned.
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## Next steps

After configuring data centers, you can specify a preferred default data center location, IP settings, and resource capacity for future VDCs. For more information about configuring VDC defaults, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Create a Dedicated Core Server</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/compute-services/compute-engine/how-tos/set-up-dedicated-core#create-a-dedicated-core-server). Next, you can [<mark style="color:blue;">define users and assign them the privilege required</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/set-user-privileges-data-center) to create data centers.