How to reinstall an Elastic Metal server

Reviewed on August 19, 2025

An Elastic Metal server can be reinstalled at any time from the Scaleway console (External link). This can be useful when you want to run a different image on the machine or if you want to have a fresh installation.

Before you start

To complete the actions presented below, you must have:

A Scaleway account logged into the console (External link)
Owner status or IAM permissions allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
An SSH key
An Elastic Metal server installed

Important

Reinstalling your server permanently erases the disk and all its data. Make sure to have a backup before reinstalling your server.

Click Elastic Metal in the Bare Metal section of the Scaleway console (External link) side menu. The Elastic Metal dashboard displays.
Click more icon next to the server you want to reinstall. A drop-down menu displays.
Click Reinstall in the menu to enter the installation wizard.
Complete the server reinstallation wizard:
- Choose an OS to run on your server or opt for custom installation.
- Configure server partitioning. You can either choose a default configuration or configure your own partitioning.
- Enter a name and, optionally, add tags to identify your server.
- Add your SSH key (required if installing an image on your server). Depending on the OS image, you may also be asked to configure the panel user for your server.
Click Reinstall server to launch the installation.