Hardware upgrades for dedicated servers

Overview

As your workload grows, you can expand the hardware of your dedicated server without moving to a new server and migrating your data. You can upgrade any component of the server except the CPU, for example:

• RAM;
• storage drives;
• RAID controller;
• network card.

The CPU cannot be upgraded. If you need a more powerful processor, consider ordering a new server with the required configuration.

For network upgrades (port speed, traffic plan, IP addresses, VLAN), see Network Upgrades.

RAM

You can add memory modules to your server or replace the installed modules with larger ones. The maximum amount of RAM depends on the motherboard and the CPU of your server. To find out the maximum for your server, ask support in the ticket.

Storage

You can add drives to free slots or replace existing drives with larger or faster ones (HDD, SSD or NVMe).

If your server uses RAID, specify the required RAID level when you request the upgrade. Adding or replacing drives in an existing array may require rebuilding the array.

Faulty component replacement

If you find that a component of your server is faulty (for example, a drive reports SMART errors or a memory module causes crashes), create a support ticket and describe the problem.

Include in the ticket:

• your server in the Orders field;
• the component that you think is faulty;
• diagnostic output, if you have it (for example, SMART data or system logs).

The data center engineers check the component and replace it. Replacement of a faulty component is always free of charge.

Availability by data center

In DC3, upgrades are available for all servers. In DC1, DC2 and DC4, support checks the possibility of an upgrade for each server individually, so specify your server in the ticket.

How to request a hardware upgrade

All hardware upgrades are requested through a support ticket.

1. In the client area, go to Tickets and click Add ticket.
2. Describe the upgrade you need.
3. Wait for the invoice and pay it.
4. At the agreed time, switch off the server.
5. The engineers carry out the work and notify you when the server is ready.

In the ticket, specify:

• your server in the Orders field;
• the component and the new configuration you need;
• a convenient time for the work, with your time zone.

Downtime

Hardware work requires the server to be switched off. The duration of the downtime depends on the scope of work.

Agree the start time of the work with support in advance, so you can plan around the downtime. At the agreed time, switch off the server yourself.

Pricing and billing

For every upgrade, an invoice is issued. The work starts only after the invoice is paid.

Summary

• Any hardware component except the CPU can be upgraded.
• Back up your data before any storage change.
• All upgrades and faulty component replacements are requested through a support ticket.
• Replacement of a faulty component is free of charge.
• The work starts after the invoice is paid.
• Agree the time of the work in advance, specify your time zone, and switch off the server at the agreed time.