Frequently Asked Questions¶
General Questions¶
What is Bare Metal and what is it used for?
Bare Metal is a physical server (Dedicated Server) provided for single-tenant use — without virtualization and without resource sharing with other customers. It is suitable for workloads that require maximum performance, predictable latency, and full control over the hardware — large databases, virtualization platforms, game servers, and analytical workloads. For more information, see Introduction to the service.
What is the difference between Bare Metal and Cloud VPS?
Cloud VPS is a virtual server running on cloud infrastructure with guaranteed virtual resources and support for resizing and snapshots. Bare Metal is a physical server without a virtualization layer — you get direct access to the hardware with maximum performance, but without the flexibility of resizing. For a detailed comparison, see the table in Introduction to the service.
What operating systems are supported?
The service supports popular Linux distributions — AlmaLinux, CentOS, Debian, RockyLinux, and Ubuntu — as well as Windows Server. You can choose an operating system at order time or switch it through Reinstall.
Is there an additional fee for Windows?
Yes. Windows Server distributions include an additional monthly license fee added to the plan price. The fee is visible when selecting the operating system on the Reinstall page.
Ordering and Activation¶
How do I order a Bare Metal server?
You can order the service directly from the client area or from the official page on Delta.BG. Select a configuration and operating system, add the service to your cart, and complete the order. For detailed instructions, see Ordering and Activation.
How long does it take to activate the service?
Activation depends on the availability status of the selected plan, shown on the plans listing page:
- Ready to Use — once the payment is confirmed, OS installation starts automatically and takes at least 10 minutes; you'll receive an email confirmation when it's complete
- Available in 7-14 Business Days — includes physical preparation (assembly, RAID configuration, rack mounting), followed by operating system installation
- Product Out of Stock — cannot be ordered directly; a request to the Sales department is required
For details, see the Availability Status section on the order page.
What do I do if the plan I want is out of stock?
When you click on a plan with the "Product Out of Stock" status, a modal dialog opens that allows you to submit a request to the Sales department. Fill in your contact details and any additional information about your desired timeline or requirements; a representative will contact you to discuss provisioning options or an alternative configuration. For details, see Bare Metal Request for Out-of-Stock Servers.
Can I change the configuration (CPU, RAM, disks) after activation?
No. Since the hardware is physical, the configuration of a Bare Metal server cannot be changed after service activation. If you need a different configuration, you can order a new server with the desired specifications. If you need flexibility in resources, consider the Cloud VPS service.
In which region is the service available?
The Bare Metal service is available in region eu-sof-1 (Sofia, Bulgaria 🇧🇬). The region cannot be changed after activation, as the physical server resides in a specific data center.
Is network traffic billed?
No. Network traffic to and from the Bare Metal server is unmetered — no additional data transfer charges apply under standard use of the network interface. The interface speed depends on the specific plan.
Server Management¶
How do I power off or reboot the server?
Navigate to the "Management" section on the service page. In the "Power Control" section, you'll find the buttons to power off and force-reboot the server. For detailed instructions, see Power Control.
Why is there no Power On button?
The Power On button only appears when the server is powered off. On Bare Metal servers, powering on from a fully powered-off state sometimes requires manual intervention by our data center team. If the server is powered off and you can't turn it on from the client area, open a support ticket.
What is rescue mode and when should I use it?
Rescue mode loads a temporary operating system when the primary system cannot start. Use it to diagnose issues, repair file systems, recover a forgotten root password, or back up important files before reinstalling. For details, see Rescue Mode.
How do I access the server via SSH?
Use an SSH client (e.g., the terminal on Linux/macOS or PuTTY on Windows) with the SSH access command shown in the "Overview" section of the service. You can also use the built-in web console. For Windows servers, use RDP (Remote Desktop) instead of SSH.
How do I change the root user's password?
For Linux servers, log in via SSH or the web console and run the passwd command. For Windows servers, change the Administrator password via the Control Panel or PowerShell. If you've forgotten the password, enable rescue mode and reset it manually, or reinstall the operating system.
Hardware and RAID¶
How do I choose a RAID configuration?
The RAID configuration is selected at order time, in the "RAID Configuration" section of the order page. The available options depend on the number and type of disks in the selected plan. Typical options are RAID 1 (Recommended) — mirrored writes across two disks — and No RAID (Not recommended) — single-disk installation without protection. For plans with more disks, RAID 10, RAID 5, or RAID 6 may also be available. For details, see Ordering and Activation.
What RAID configuration do I have?
The current RAID configuration is visible on the "Overview" section of the service, in the "RAID Configuration" block. It shows the scheme you selected at order time. For more information about different RAID levels, see Glossary.
What happens if a disk fails?
With RAID configurations that include redundancy (RAID 1, 5, 6, 10), the server continues to operate normally if a single disk fails. We recommend monitoring the state of the RAID array using software tools on the server (e.g., megacli or smartctl). When a failure is detected, open a support ticket so we can arrange to replace the faulty disk.
Can I change the RAID configuration after activation?
No. The RAID configuration is applied in hardware when the server is initialized and cannot be changed after service activation, as it requires a physical rearrangement of the disks and loss of all data. If you need a different RAID scheme, contact our team to evaluate the options.
Networking¶
How do I configure the server's network?
The network configuration is managed directly at the operating system level. For Linux, edit the files in /etc/network/interfaces (Debian/Ubuntu) or /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ (RHEL/CentOS/Rocky). For Windows, use the Control Panel or PowerShell. For more information, see Network.
Can I get additional IP addresses?
Yes. Additional IP addresses can be ordered by opening a support ticket from the client area.
Is bonding supported for network cards?
Yes. On servers with multiple physical network cards, you can configure bonding at the operating system level (e.g., via /etc/network/interfaces on Debian/Ubuntu or nmcli with NetworkManager) for increased throughput or redundancy.
Reinstallation and Data¶
What happens to my data when reinstalling?
Reinstalling erases all data on the server — including the operating system, applications, and configurations. Bare Metal servers don't have built-in support for snapshots or backups from the client area, so it is essential to back up your important data before reinstalling.
How do I back up my data?
To back up data from your Bare Metal server, you can use the Delta Cloud Backup service, which provides automated backups of files, folders, and databases with configurable retention. Alternatively, you can use your own tools such as rsync, tar, or send backups to Object Storage.
How long does reinstallation take?
Unlike virtualized services, reinstalling a physical server takes from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the selected operating system and the server's configuration. After completion, the new credentials will be visible in the "Overview" section.
Support¶
How do I get support if I have an issue?
You can create a support ticket from the "New Ticket" section on the service page in the client area.
When should I contact support about a hardware issue?
Contact support in the following cases:
- Disk failure in the RAID array
- The server is powered off and cannot be powered on from the client area
- Suspected hardware failure (errors in system logs)
- Network connectivity issues not related to OS configuration
For operating system or application-level issues, our team can point you to the relevant resources, but direct support at the software level depends on the type of service you've chosen.