When you order a dedicated server from Offshore-Servers, the provisioning process is a bit different (and longer) than instant VPS or shared hosting setups. Here’s what to expect and do:

• Order Confirmation and Setup Time: After selecting your dedicated server plan (with your desired CPU, RAM, storage, bandwidth, etc.), you’ll complete the order and payment. Unlike VPS which can be auto-deployed, a dedicated server is a physical machine that may need to be allocated or even assembled. Offshore-Servers will set up the server in their data center (install the hardware components if needed, mount it in rack, connect networking, etc.). They will then install the base operating system of your choice. This provisioning can take a while – often a few hours to 1-2 business days, depending on availability and complexity. (If you chose a common configuration that’s in stock, it might be same-day. If it’s a custom build or high-spec, expect some lead time.)
• OS Installation: During the order, you likely specify the OS (Linux distro or Windows) or you’ll communicate with support about it. The team will install that OS for you. If it’s Linux, they’ll provide root SSH access; if Windows, Administrator RDP credentials. Some providers allow you to install via IPMI/KVM, but generally Offshore-Servers will deliver it ready-to-go unless you specifically want to do it yourself.
• Receiving Access Details: Once the server is ready, you’ll get an email with details such as:
  • Server IP address (or multiple IPs if included).
  • Root password for Linux or Admin password for Windows (or a note if you need to set it).
  • SSH port if non-standard, or instructions for IPMI (see below).
  • Any control panel credentials if you purchased a panel add-on.
  • Important network info like subnet, gateway, etc., if applicable.

  You’ll also see the service listed in your Offshore-Servers client area, though initially management might be minimal there (we’ll talk about upcoming automation soon).

• Initial Login and Testing: As soon as you have credentials, test access. Try SSHing into the server (for Linux) or RDP for Windows. It’s good to do this promptly to confirm everything works. Also, test network connectivity (ping out from the server, update packages, etc.) to ensure the network is configured correctly. If anything is amiss (e.g., you can’t connect, or hardware specs don’t match order), contact Offshore-Servers support immediately to get it resolved.
• Reverse DNS / Hostname: If you want a custom rDNS for your IP (useful for mail servers etc.), you might need to request that from support or if the client area has a function for it. Initially, the server will have a default hostname (something like server123.offshore-servers.com). You can change the hostname on the server itself, but for rDNS (PTR record), coordinate with the host.
• Resource Verification: Since it’s dedicated hardware, you might want to verify the specs. On Linux, check lscpu (for CPU info), free -m (RAM), and lsblk or similar (disk sizes). On Windows, check System Properties for CPU/RAM, and Disk Management for drives. Ensure it matches what you ordered.

Provisioning essentially hands over a powerful blank-slate machine to you. From that point, it’s typically your responsibility to configure it (unless you have a managed plan or hired admin services). The advantage is you have full control: you can run any software, use all system resources, and customize the environment fully to your needs. The downside is everything is on you to maintain (updates, security, etc.), so we’ll cover some of that later.

One more note: Dedicated IPs and Networking – your server comes with one (or more) public IP addresses. Make sure you know how many and their addresses. If you need additional IPs for multiple SSL sites or other uses, Offshore-Servers offer add-on IPs (just ensure justification if required, as some regions require justification for many IPs).

After provisioning, the next steps are accessing and controlling the server day-to-day, which we discuss now.