Network options

Interface

Select the interface option to choose whether you want your server to have public internet access, or only a private interface. Private network access is always included so the decision here is if you want your server to also have public internet access. If so, select Public and Private. Keep in mind that it is not possible to add a public interface to a server after it is provisioned with only a private interface.

The user that places the server order must have the Add Compute with Public Network Port permission to select an interface option, which contains a public interface.

Port redundancy

Select this option to determine how you'd want to handle network connection redundancy. Choose from the following options.

• Automatic is the default and recommended setting. Automatic port redundancy provides two physical network ports that are configured with LACP bonding on both the network and the operating system during provisioning. Automatic is the most hands-free option for continuous network availability.

• User Managed is available for advanced configurations. It provides two physical network ports, but the ports are configured independently on both the network and the operating system. For this option to provide redundancy, you must perform an action in your application, operating system, or both to use the secondary port. If you use the second port in a manner that does not provide redundant connectivity to your application, you can't have redundant connectivity. By selecting this option, you are communicating that you have the knowledge and skill to configure redundancy on your system (or within your application) and are aware that not doing so results in a lack of network communication redundancy during routine network maintenance.

• None provides a single physical port to each network. It is maintained as an option for customers who continue to order within traditional data centers and that might require PXE booting capability. For more information about specialized needs for unbonded, see Port speed. While it is possible to choose this option in all data centers, you need to select None only in consultation with IBM Sales or Support under specific conditions.

Network maintenance is normal. While you are notified, you can avoid disruption only when you use Automatic redundancy, or making a special effort under the User-Managed redundancy option.

Port speed

Select either 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, or 25 Gbps as the maximum operating speed of all network interfaces.

The 25 Gbps port speed option is limited to select bare metal server options. For more information, see 25 Gbps port speed.

If you selected None for port redundancy, you might see an option that includes the word unbonded. These options account for specific interactions between our default port bonding configurations and PXE booting. By default, all ports are configured into a redundant bond, even if not all ports are active, allowing for a seamless redundancy upgrade in the future. However, this default bonding can prevent PXE booting in some locations. The option causes ports to not be configured within a bond by default, regardless of the number of active interfaces. Modern data centers do not have a conflict with PXE booting and our default bonding configuration.

Avoid use of this feature unless instructed by IBM Sales or Support.

Public egress bandwidth

Select the public egress bandwidth option to choose the amount of included outbound, or egress, public traffic that you want for your server. The selected value is per billing period. Any traffic that is recorded over the selection for the period is charged per gigabyte (GB) as an overage. A value of 0 GB means that all traffic is charged. Inbound, or ingress, public traffic is free of charge.

Provision VLAN selection

When you configure a server, you are sometimes provided a VLAN selector. This selection is optional, and shows only existing VLANs that are located within the selected data center. The selector is for a private VLAN, and when you choose a private VLAN, a public VLAN selector is presented. It shows public VLANs that are available in the same pod as the selected private VLAN (if a public interface is applicable). These selections help you control what VLANs, and therefore what pod your server resides. VLAN selection becomes more relevant when you take advantage of gateway](/docs/gateway-appliance?topic=gateway-appliance-getting-started) or hardware firewall products, or if you are constructing multitier network architectures. Review Premium VLANs if you want to deploy a specific network topology before server provisioning.

Provision subnet selection

If a VLAN is selected for a network connection, you are presented with a list of primary subnets from which to choose. This selection is also optional, and it is recommended to retain the default option of Auto assigned. Primary IP addresses and subnets are assigned as needed. Selecting a subnet for multiple device orders can cause that subnet to no longer have available IP addresses. If you request a specific subnet that no longer has IP addresses available, IBM must contact you, which drastically increases provisioning time, and reduces ordering convenience. Use this advanced feature only when a specific procedure is needed.

Primary IP addresses

Primary IP addresses are the names that are given to IP addresses that are assigned to your private and public network interfaces by default. An IPv4 address is included with the price of your server for each network. These addresses provide server-unique connectivity on their respective network, and are nontransferable. It's important to understand what primary IP addresses, and thus what primary subnets do and don't allow. It is highly recommended to use secondary IP addresses when you announce external services so your IP addresses are not tightly coupled to any particular server.

IPv6 - Within the Add-ons section of the network options is the IPv6 address option. If you want a public primary IPv6 address, select this option. Your server must have a primary IPv6 address to interact with any other products that use IPv6 connectivity.

Secondary IP addresses

You can request more IP addresses for your server (which is recommended when you announce services externally) when you order a server. The Public secondary IP addresses option is in the Add-ons section of the network options. Select the number of IP addresses that you want, then select a secondary static subnet of the appropriate size that is automatically provisioned and routed to your server's public primary IP address. If you require more IP addresses later, you can order more secondary subnets.

Server hardware firewall

Applicable when a public network interface is requested, this option places a firewall in front of your server. The rules of the firewall apply only to the IP addresses associated with the server. For more information, see Hardware Firewalls (Shared).

Always included options and services

The following network options and services are always included with your Bare Metal Servers:

• Private network interface - All Bare Metal Servers include access to the private network, which allows access to other IBM Services.
• Primary IP addresses - A private IPv4 address is included with a private network interface. If a public network interface is selected, a public IPv4 address is also included. These addresses provide basic connectivity to the server. Learn more about primary IP addresses.
• VPN Management - Manage access to the subnet that the server resides on for users when you connect through VPN.

Understanding network options on your invoice

The way that you select your network interface options during ordering differs from how they are represented on your invoice. An entry is shown on your invoice for each server, similar to the following example:

1 Gbps Public & Private Network Uplinks

This entry indicates a private and public network connection was requested at a speed of 1 Gbps. The speed is always represented first, and indicates the speed of both the private and public network interfaces (if applicable). More keywords can be present:

• Redundant - Indicates that you selected Automatic for the Port redundancy option.
• Dual - Indicates that you selected User Managed for the Port redundancy option.
• Unbonded - Indicates that you selected either User Managed for the Port redundancy option, or a Port speed option that contains the word unbonded.
• Private Only - Indicates that you selected Private for the server's network interface.