10Gbps Bare Metal Servers
Direct Hardware Access with Zero Virtualization Overhead
Bare metal means you're running directly on the hardware—no hypervisor, no virtualization layer, no shared resources. Your applications get 100% of the CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth. For workloads where performance is critical, there's no substitute.
Bare Metal
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What is a 10Gbps Bare Metal Server?
A bare metal server is a physical server that you rent entirely for yourself, without any virtualization layer between your operating system and the hardware. Unlike VPS or cloud instances, there's no hypervisor running underneath—you have direct access to the CPU, RAM, storage, and network interfaces.
The '10Gbps' part refers to the network port speed. With bare metal, you get the full 10Gbps port dedicated to your server—no sharing with other tenants, no bandwidth caps (with unmetered plans), just raw network capacity. This is the same hardware that powers high-performance workloads at major tech companies.
💡 Here's the tradeoff: bare metal gives you maximum performance and isolation, but it's less flexible than VPS. You can't instantly resize a bare metal server—hardware changes require migration or physical intervention. If you need rapid scaling, consider whether bare metal fits your use case, or if a VPS with burst capability might work.
Bare Metal vs VPS: Quick Comparison
10Gbps Bare Metal
- ✓Direct hardware access, zero overhead
- ✓100% dedicated resources
- ✓Full 10Gbps port for your use
- ✓Best for sustained workloads
- ✓Physical hardware changes take time
- ✓Predictable, consistent performance
10Gbps VPS
- ✓Runs on shared hardware via hypervisor
- ✓Dedicated vCPU/RAM, shared bandwidth
- ✓Can burst to 10Gbps when available
- ✓Easy to resize and scale
- ✓Slight virtualization overhead
- ✓Good for variable workloads
Why Choose Bare Metal?
The advantages that make bare metal the right choice for demanding workloads
Maximum Raw Performance
No hypervisor means no virtualization overhead. Your applications run directly on the hardware, getting full access to CPU instructions, memory bandwidth, and I/O. For CPU-intensive tasks, database workloads, and high-frequency applications, this can mean 5-15% better performance versus virtualized environments.
Consistent, Predictable Performance
There's no 'noisy neighbor' problem on bare metal. The resources are 100% yours—CPU, RAM, storage I/O, network bandwidth. Latency is consistent, throughput is stable. This predictability is crucial for applications where performance variance is unacceptable.
Full 10Gbps Network Capacity
The 10Gbps port is dedicated to your server. With unmetered plans, you can saturate that connection 24/7 if your workload demands it. No burst limits, no soft caps, no throttling based on other tenants' usage.
Direct Hardware Access
Need GPU passthrough? Hardware RAID? Custom NIC configurations? Specific CPU features? Bare metal gives you access to hardware that isn't available through virtualization. Essential for workloads like machine learning, video encoding, or specialized appliances.
Hardware-Level Isolation
No shared hardware means no shared attack surface. There's no hypervisor to exploit, no VM escape vulnerabilities. Your server is physically isolated from other customers—important for compliance requirements and security-sensitive workloads.
Complete Control
Root access to everything from BIOS settings (via IPMI) to OS configuration. Install any operating system, customize kernel parameters, optimize for your specific workload. The server is yours—run it exactly how you need.
When Does Bare Metal Make Sense?
Workloads where direct hardware access provides real advantages
Database Servers
High-performance databases benefit enormously from bare metal. Direct access to NVMe storage, predictable memory bandwidth, and no virtualization overhead means lower query latency and higher throughput. PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and especially real-time databases perform better on bare metal.
Video Streaming & Transcoding
Streaming servers need consistent high bandwidth and CPU power for transcoding. Bare metal with 10Gbps unmetered bandwidth handles concurrent streams without performance variance. Hardware encoder access (Intel QuickSync, NVENC) requires bare metal.
Large Game Server Hosting
Game servers need low, consistent latency. Bare metal eliminates the jitter that virtualization can introduce. For competitive gaming or large public servers where every millisecond matters, bare metal is the right choice.
High-Traffic Web Applications
When your application handles millions of requests, the 5-15% overhead from virtualization adds up. Bare metal gives you maximum requests per second and consistent response times under load.
Machine Learning & AI
ML workloads need direct GPU access, high memory bandwidth, and fast storage. Bare metal with dedicated GPUs provides the environment needed for training and inference at scale.
Compliance & Security
Some compliance frameworks require physical isolation. Healthcare (HIPAA), finance, and government workloads often mandate bare metal to meet security and audit requirements.
Choosing the Right Bare Metal Server
Key factors to consider when selecting bare metal hardware
CPU Selection
Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC are the standards for server workloads. More cores help with parallel tasks. Higher clock speeds help with single-threaded performance. Match your CPU choice to your workload—databases often benefit more from clock speed, while virtualization and containers prefer core count.
Memory Configuration
Bare metal servers typically offer 64GB to 512GB+ RAM. All memory is dedicated to your applications—no sharing. Consider ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory for reliability in production workloads. More RAM channels mean higher memory bandwidth.
Storage Type & Configuration
NVMe provides the fastest storage for databases and I/O-intensive workloads. SSD offers good performance at lower cost. Enterprise HDDs work for bulk storage. Many servers support RAID configurations for redundancy. Consider both capacity and IOPS requirements.
Network & Bandwidth
10Gbps is standard for performance workloads. Some providers offer 25Gbps or higher. Check whether bandwidth is dedicated or shared, metered or unmetered. For sustained high-bandwidth needs, unmetered 10Gbps eliminates billing surprises.
Remote Management (IPMI/KVM)
IPMI provides out-of-band management—you can reboot, access BIOS, and mount ISOs even if the OS is unresponsive. Essential for bare metal administration. Some providers include this; others charge extra.
Server Location
Choose locations near your users for lower latency. For European audiences, Netherlands (AMS-IX) and Frankfurt (DE-CIX) offer excellent connectivity. Location also affects legal jurisdiction and data residency requirements.
Standard Bare Metal Features
What you typically get with 10Gbps bare metal hosting
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bare metal?
Bare metal refers to a physical server without any virtualization layer. You have direct access to the hardware—CPU, RAM, storage, and network—without a hypervisor running underneath. This eliminates virtualization overhead and provides maximum performance. Your applications run directly on the hardware, exactly as they would on a physical server you own.
Bare metal vs dedicated server: What's the difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, and for most practical purposes, they mean the same thing: a physical server exclusively for your use. 'Bare metal' specifically emphasizes that there's no virtualization layer—you're running directly on the hardware. 'Dedicated server' emphasizes that the resources aren't shared with other customers. Nearly all modern dedicated servers are bare metal.
Bare metal vs VPS: When should I choose bare metal?
Choose bare metal when you need: maximum performance without virtualization overhead, consistent/predictable latency, direct hardware access (GPUs, specific CPU features), hardware-level isolation for compliance, or sustained high-bandwidth usage. Choose VPS when you need: quick scaling, lower costs for smaller workloads, rapid provisioning, or flexibility to resize frequently.
How much overhead does virtualization actually add?
Depending on the workload, virtualization typically adds 5-15% overhead. CPU-intensive tasks see less impact (2-5%), while I/O-intensive workloads (databases, storage) can see more (10-15%). For some specialized workloads requiring specific hardware access, virtualization may not work at all. If you're optimizing for every last bit of performance, bare metal eliminates this entirely.
Can I install any operating system on bare metal?
Yes. With full root access and IPMI/KVM, you can install any OS that supports the hardware. Most providers offer automated installation of common distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Windows Server). Many also allow custom ISO uploads for specialized or proprietary operating systems.
How quickly can I get a bare metal server?
It varies by provider and configuration. Pre-configured, in-stock servers can often be provisioned in 15-60 minutes via automated systems. Custom configurations or high-demand hardware may require manual setup, taking 24-48 hours. This is generally slower than VPS provisioning but faster than traditional dedicated server setups.
What is IPMI and why do I need it?
IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) provides out-of-band management of your server. You can power cycle, access BIOS/UEFI settings, mount ISOs, and view console output—even if the operating system is unresponsive. It's like having physical access to the server remotely. Essential for bare metal administration.
Is bare metal overkill for my needs?
Possibly. If your workload doesn't require sustained high performance, hardware access, or strict isolation, VPS might be more cost-effective and flexible. Bare metal makes sense when: performance is critical, you need the full 10Gbps consistently, you require specific hardware, or compliance demands physical isolation. Otherwise, consider VPS first.
Can I upgrade my bare metal server?
Unlike VPS, you can't resize bare metal with a reboot. Hardware upgrades (more RAM, additional drives) may be possible depending on the provider—some offer this with brief downtime. To change CPU or significantly reconfigure, you'll typically need to migrate to a different server. Plan your initial configuration to accommodate growth.
What about DDoS protection on bare metal?
Most providers include basic DDoS protection at no extra charge. For high-profile targets (game servers, VPN services), look for providers with robust mitigation capabilities. Some offer tiered protection—basic included, premium available. The 10Gbps port gives you headroom to absorb smaller attacks without impact.
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