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Bare Metal Provisioning

Reliable automation that goes from plug-in to production in minutes

RackN Digital Rebar is more than a bare metal provisioning tool. It’s a complete automation platform that starts at first boot and carries through the entire infrastructure lifecycle. It folds firmware control, discovery, and operating system installation into versioned, reusable workflows. Every workflow is reliable and scalable across any hardware vendor, in any network topology, at any number of sites.

Our Provisioning Process

Discovery

Our unique provisioning process begins with discovery. Systems boot into a lightweight environment that performs inventory, validates configuration, and prepares hardware for installation. This process reduces surprises after install and gives operators a dependable point of control for remediation or rework.

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Our unique provisioning process begins with discovery. Systems boot into a lightweight environment that performs inventory, validates configuration, and prepares hardware for installation. This process reduces surprises after install and gives operators a dependable point of control for remediation or rework.

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Digital Rebar includes native DHCP, DNS, and IPAM services. The platform uses these services to control network boot, assign and reserve addresses, update hostnames, and publish records. Sites can run the integrated servers or connect to existing IPAM systems while retaining the same automation patterns.

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Digital Rebar supports both PXE and UEFI iPXE booting, with pre-configured workflows for each. During discovery, systems obtain boot instructions by PXE and retrieve the next stage via TFTP or HTTP, then transition into Digital Rebar’s native discovery image, called Sledgehammer, for inventory and preparation. Boot instructions are dynamically generated based on system metadata and classification rules. The result is reliable, predictable boot behavior across mixed environments.

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When network boot is restricted, Digital Rebar supports media-based boot through out-of-band controllers like IPMI, Redfish, iDRAC, and iLO. The platform generates machine-specific ISO or USB images, mounts them via BMC tooling, and triggers automated provisioning. All major OEM protocols are supported. Because this method depends heavily on vendor tooling and network quality, it is typically used for initial discovery only, followed by image deployment for reliability and speed.

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RAID and BIOS configuration are performed in-band using vendor tools and typically executed from the discovery environment. This avoids reliance on fragile out-of-band methods and ensures compatibility across hardware generations. Operators can define profiles for layout, firmware versions, and BIOS settings, which are then applied consistently and verified before deployment proceeds.

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Provisioning continues with hardware and OS configuration using composable tasks. Operators can choose image deployment or scripted installers, then (re)apply BIOS, RAID, and post-install steps as part of the same workflow.

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Before image deployment, each system is validated against a known baseline. This includes CPU, memory, disk, NIC, and firmware checks. Deviations from expected state can trigger workflow divergence, alerting, or fail-safe behaviors. Operators gain a verified inventory and a durable reference for compliance and drift checks before proceeding to installation.

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Eikon is our native image deployment tool built specifically for full-lifecycle control. Its workflows include disk partitioning, image writing, bootloader setup, and cloud-init for first-boot configuration. Eikon splits provisioning into discrete, observable steps, giving teams speed, reproducibility, and precise control. Images can be built externally with tools like Packer and versioned through Digital Rebar content packs. For organizations standardized on Canonical tooling, Digital Rebar continues to support Curtin as well.

Discovery

Our unique provisioning process begins with discovery. Systems boot into a lightweight environment that performs inventory, validates configuration, and prepares hardware for installation. This process reduces surprises after install and gives operators a dependable point of control for remediation or rework.

Edit Content

Our unique provisioning process begins with discovery. Systems boot into a lightweight environment that performs inventory, validates configuration, and prepares hardware for installation. This process reduces surprises after install and gives operators a dependable point of control for remediation or rework.

Edit Content

Digital Rebar includes native DHCP, DNS, and IPAM services. The platform uses these services to control network boot, assign and reserve addresses, update hostnames, and publish records at the right time in the workflow. Sites can run the integrated servers or connect to existing IPAM systems while retaining the same automation patterns.

Edit Content

Digital Rebar supports both PXE and UEFI iPXE booting, with pre-configured workflows for each. During discovery, systems obtain boot instructions by PXE and retrieve the next stage via TFTP or HTTP, then transition into Digital Rebar’s native discovery image, called Sledgehammer, for inventory and preparation. Boot instructions are dynamically generated based on system metadata and classification rules. The result is reliable, predictable boot behavior across mixed environments.

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Operators can apply updates, enforce configurations, and revalidate infrastructure with automated, repeatable workflows built for Day 2 operations.

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Role-based access control, secrets management, and SSO integration ensure secure operations in even the most sensitive environments.

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Digital Rebar runs entirely within your infrastructure, giving operators full control without relying on external services or exposing systems to unnecessary risk.

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Digital Rebar supports diverse, global site management where each site operates independently but maintains synchronized automation and shared control.

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Advanced Features and Capabilities

No matter how you’re using OpenShift, Digital Rebar automation makes it fast and simple to do on bare metal.

Digital Rebar integrates Secure Boot into provisioning, including special paths for ESXi and UEFI chain-of-trust. Using the integrated DHCP service allows the platform to direct the correct boot stages required by Secure Boot without breaking the signature chain. Release notes describe recent improvements for signed ESXi processes.

Digital Rebar delivers fully autonomous workflows from power-on to production-ready. Machines can self-enroll, run discovery, classify, configure RAID and BIOS, deploy OS images, apply configurations, and register with higher-layer platforms without any manual steps. All actions are logged, evented, and subject to role-based access controls. Digital Rebar’s zero-touch automation is not limited to initial deployment, it extends to reprovisioning, reset, and Day 2 operations.

For environments with no external connectivity, Digital Rebar can operate fully offline. All provisioning content, including discovery images, OS installers, and workflow components, is pre-packaged and delivered via secure channels. Updates and patches are applied through controlled catalog synchronization. 

Because Digital Rebar lacks external dependencies, it’s suitable for classified, regulated, or disconnected data centers.

Digital Rebar includes workflows for system validation and hardware testing, executed from the discovery image. These tests include burn-in, memory checks, disk verification, and network validation. Results are captured in the machine record and can be audited or used to gate further provisioning.

Digital Rebar integrates Secure Boot into provisioning, including special paths for ESXi and UEFI chain-of-trust. Using the integrated DHCP service allows the platform to direct the correct boot stages required by Secure Boot without breaking the signature chain. Release notes describe recent improvements for signed ESXi processes.

Digital Rebar delivers fully autonomous workflows from power-on to production-ready. Machines can self-enroll, run discovery, classify, configure RAID and BIOS, deploy OS images, apply configurations, and register with higher-layer platforms without any manual steps. All actions are logged, evented, and subject to role-based access controls. Digital Rebar’s zero-touch automation is not limited to initial deployment, it extends to reprovisioning, reset, and Day 2 operations.

For environments with no external connectivity, Digital Rebar can operate fully offline. All provisioning content, including discovery images, OS installers, and workflow components, is pre-packaged and delivered via secure channels. Updates and patches are applied through controlled catalog synchronization. 

Because Digital Rebar lacks external dependencies, it’s suitable for classified, regulated, or disconnected data centers.

Digital Rebar includes workflows for system validation and hardware testing, executed from the discovery image. These tests include burn-in, memory checks, disk verification, and network validation. Results are captured in the machine record and can be audited or used to gate further provisioning.

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