---
title: Create and manage Elastic Metal servers with the Scaleway CLI
description: Learn to create and manage Elastic Metal servers using the Scaleway CLI in this comprehensive guide.
tags: elastic-metal command-line-interface cli scw
dates:
validation: 2025-07-15
posted: 2021-05-26
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'
Scaleway's [Elastic Metal servers](https://www.scaleway.com/en/elastic-metal/) provide you with dedicated servers on-demand, with all the benefits of the cloud, including flexibility and hourly billing. These servers are great for large workloads, big data, and applications that require increased security and dedicated resources. You can create and manage your Elastic Metal servers from the [Scaleway console](https://console.scaleway.com/), via the [API](https://www.scaleway.com/en/developers/api/elastic-metal/) or the [Scaleway Command Line Interface (CLI)](https://github.com/scaleway/scaleway-cli#scaleway-cli-v2).
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the CLI to create an Elastic Metal server, install an OS, and manage the server lifecycle.
## Scaleway Command Line Interface overview
The [Scaleway Command Line Interface (CLI)](https://github.com/scaleway/scaleway-cli) allows you to pilot your Scaleway infrastructure directly from your terminal, providing a faster way to administer and monitor your resources. Scaleway CLI is easy to set up and use, and an essential tool for operating efficiently in your cloud environment. The CLI provides many functionalities, including the ability to create and administer Elastic Metal servers.
- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- An [SSH key](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/)
- A valid [API key](/iam/how-to/create-api-keys/)
- [Installed and configured the Scaleway CLI](/scaleway-cli/quickstart/)
## Creating an Elastic Metal server
- The help info for the `zone` argument informs you that the default zone is `fr-par-2` because Elastic Metal servers are only available in the `fr-par-2` zone at the moment. However, `fr-par-2` is not necessarily the default zone in your configuration. To create a server, you need to either change the default zone in your configuration file (check the location of this file in the output of scw init and change the value for `default zone` to `fr-par-2`), or explicitly target the `fr-par-2` zone in the commands to create and manage your server.
1. Type the following command in your terminal to create your Elastic Metal server:
```bash
scw baremetal server create name=name-of-your-server type=EM-A210R-SATA zone=fr-par-2
```
An output similar to the following displays:
```
ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
OrganizationID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
ProjectID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt 36 seconds ago
CreatedAt 36 seconds ago
Status delivering
OfferID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Domain -
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
PingStatus unknown
```
- For more information on creating an Elastic Metal server, type `scw baremetal server create --help` in your terminal.
- You can add additional arguments to your command, such as `description` to add a description of your Elastic Metal server, or `tags.0` to add tags.
2. Write down the ID of your server, as you will need it in the next steps.
* Type `scw baremetal server list zone=fr-par-2` for a summary of information for your Elastic Metal server, and details for other servers you have previously created.
* Use the command `scw baremetal server get ID-of-your-server zone=fr-par-2` for information about a specific server.
## Installing an OS
You will need the SSH key ID associated with your account to install your chosen OS on your server.
1. Type the following command in your terminal to see a list of available OSes:
```bash
scw baremetal os list zone=fr-par-2
```
An output with available OSes and their associated IDs displays:
```
ID NAME
82ed3c56-935c-4012-b01f-69070fce1b1d Ubuntu
0aa99516-52bb-4a7d-b9fe-1adc8478c2e0 Debian
58bf948f-8b9b-45c2-9ad6-582c26133f9e Rocky Linux
e8fc12e5-cfcd-434a-a8b0-d5f5141baf91 Ubuntu
03b7f4ba-a6a1-4305-984e-b54fafbf1681 Ubuntu
86fd5e3a-b023-4fa8-a3ae-1a194d8cd68c CentOS
f2aeab5d-6015-4b7c-b4ed-d76e89093621 Debian
01d6eef6-6b96-47fd-b9f9-3857321abe4f Ubuntu
```
2. Write down the ID of the OS you want to install.
3. Type the following command to display the list of your SSH key's ID:
```bash
scw iam ssh-key list
```
You will see an output similar to the following:
```
ID NAME CREATED AT UPDATED AT
your-ssh-key-ID name-of-your-ssh-key 1 week ago 1 week ago
```
4. Write down your SSH key ID, as you will need it in the next steps.
5. Type the following command to install an OS on your Elastic Metal server:
```bash
scw baremetal server install ID-of-your-elastic-metal-server os-id=ID-of-OS-you-want-to-install hostname=hostname-for-your-server ssh-key-ids.0=your-ssh-key-ID zone=fr-par-2
```
If you have multiple SSH keys, you can use the argument `all-ssh-keys=true` to install all your SSH keys on the server.
An output similar to the following displays:
```
ID ID-of-your-Elastic-Metal-Server
OrganizationID ID-of-your-organization
ProjectID ID-of-your-project
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt 8 minutes ago
CreatedAt 11 minutes ago
Status ready
OfferID ID-of-the-offer
IPs.0.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.Address 12.345.67.89
IPs.0.Reverse -
IPs.0.Version IPv4
IPs.0.ReverseStatus unknown
IPs.0.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.1.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.1.Address 1234:123:4567:8:9123:4567:8912:345
IPs.1.Reverse 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123.fr-par-2.baremetal.scw.cloud
IPs.1.Version IPv6
IPs.1.ReverseStatus active
IPs.1.ReverseStatusMessage -
Domain 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123.fr-par-2.baremetal.scw.cloud
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
Install.OsID ID-of-your-OS
Install.Hostname hostname-for-your-server
Install.SSHKeyIDs.0 your-ssh-key-ID
Install.Status to_install
PingStatus up
```
You can check the status of your server with the command `scw baremetal server list zone=fr-par-2`.
## Using other CLI commands
There are many other functionalities you can access for your Elastic Metal server via the Scaleway CLI. In the following examples, replace `your-elastic-metal-server-ID` with your server's ID.
* Before powering off your server, we recommend you [log into your server as root](/elastic-metal/how-to/connect-to-server/) and execute the `halt` command to shut down the OS.
* Type `scw baremetal server get name-of-server-ID zone=fr-par-2` in your terminal if you are not sure what the IP address of your Elastic Metal server is. It will display in the `IPs.0.Address` field.
### Powering on your server
Type the following command in your terminal:
```bash
scw baremetal server start your-elastic-metal-server-ID zone=fr-par-2
```
The following output displays, and you will see "starting" next to the `Status` field:
```
ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
OrganizationID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
ProjectID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt 3 seconds from now
CreatedAt 3 hours ago
Status starting
OfferID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.Address 12.345.67.89
IPs.0.Reverse -
IPs.0.Version IPv4
IPs.0.ReverseStatus unknown
IPs.0.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.1.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.1.Address IPs.1.Address
IPs.1.Reverse IPs.1.Reverse
IPs.1.Version IPv6
IPs.1.ReverseStatus pending
IPs.1.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.2.ID IPs.2.ID
IPs.2.Address 51.159.17.32
IPs.2.Reverse IPs.2.Reverse
IPs.2.Version IPv4
IPs.2.ReverseStatus active
IPs.2.ReverseStatusMessage -
Domain your-domain-name
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
Install.OsID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Hostname hostname-for-your-server
Install.SSHKeyIDs.0 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Status completed
PingStatus up
```
### Powering off your server
Before powering off your Elastic Metal server, we recommend you [log into your server as root](/elastic-metal/how-to/connect-to-server/) and execute the `halt` command to shut down the OS.
Type the following command in your terminal:
```bash
scw baremetal server stop your-elastic-metal-server-ID zone=fr-par-2
```
The following output displays, and you will see "stopping" next to the `Status` field:
```
ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
OrganizationID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
ProjectID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt 3 seconds from now
CreatedAt 3 hours ago
Status stopping
OfferID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.Address 12.345.67.89
IPs.0.Reverse -
IPs.0.Version IPv4
IPs.0.ReverseStatus unknown
IPs.0.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.1.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.1.Address IPs.1.Address
IPs.1.Reverse IPs.1.Reverse
IPs.1.Version IPv6
IPs.1.ReverseStatus pending
IPs.1.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.2.ID IPs.2.ID
IPs.2.Address 51.159.17.32
IPs.2.Reverse IPs.2.Reverse
IPs.2.Version IPv4
IPs.2.ReverseStatus active
IPs.2.ReverseStatusMessage -
Domain your-domain-name
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
Install.OsID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Hostname hostname-for-your-server
Install.SSHKeyIDs.0 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Status completed
PingStatus up
```
### Rebooting your Server
Type the following command:
```bash
scw baremetal server reboot your-elastic-metal-server-ID zone=fr-par-2
```
The following output displays, and you will see "down" next to the `PingStatus` field:
```
ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
OrganizationID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
ProjectID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt 3 seconds from now
CreatedAt 3 hours ago
Status stopping
OfferID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.0.Address 12.345.67.89
IPs.0.Reverse -
IPs.0.Version IPv4
IPs.0.ReverseStatus unknown
IPs.0.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.1.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.1.Address IPs.1.Address
IPs.1.Reverse IPs.1.Reverse
IPs.1.Version IPv6
IPs.1.ReverseStatus pending
IPs.1.ReverseStatusMessage -
IPs.2.ID IPs.2.ID
IPs.2.Address 51.159.17.32
IPs.2.Reverse IPs.2.Reverse
IPs.2.Version IPv4
IPs.2.ReverseStatus active
IPs.2.ReverseStatusMessage -
Domain your-domain-name
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
Install.OsID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Hostname hostname-for-your-server
Install.SSHKeyIDs.0 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
Install.Status completed
PingStatus down
```
## Deleting your server
This action is irreversible and will permanently delete your Elastic Metal server and your data.
Type the following command in your terminal:
```bash
scw baremetal server delete your-elastic-metal-server-ID zone=fr-par-2
```
An output like the following displays, and you will see "deleting" next to the `Status` field:
```
ID your-elastic-metal-server-ID
OrganizationID your-organization-ID
ProjectID your-project-ID
Name name-of-your-server
Description -
UpdatedAt now
CreatedAt 4 hours ago
Status deleting
OfferID your-offer-ID
Tags.0 -
IPs.1.ID 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123
IPs.1.Address 1234:123:4567:8:9123:4567:8912:345
IPs.1.Reverse 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123.fr-par-2.baremetal.scw.cloud
IPs.1.Version IPv6
IPs.1.ReverseStatus active
IPs.1.ReverseStatusMessage -
Domain 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123.fr-par-2.baremetal.scw.cloud
BootType normal
Zone fr-par-2
Install.OsID ID-of-your-OS
Install.Hostname hostname-for-your-server
Install.SSHKeyIDs.0 your-ssh-key-ID
Install.Status completed
PingStatus down
```
Enter the following command to make sure that your server has been deleted:
```bash
scw baremetal server list zone=fr-par-2
```
An output similar to the following displays:
```
12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789123 name-of-your-server EM-A210R-SATA stopped
```