Skip to content

Add a server

10 min · Screen: /servers/new · Needs: Permissions.Servers.Create

The five steps of the Add server wizard
The five steps of the Add server wizard
  1. Open Infrastructure › Servers and click Add server

  2. Connection - describe the host

    Name (unique), Hostname (DNS name or address), Port, Environment, SSH credential, and optionally a Jump host, Tags and Notes. Then Save and continue.

  3. Host key - pin what the server answers with

    Click Scan the host key. On the server’s own console run ssh-keygen -lf /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key.pub and compare the fingerprints. When they match, tick I compared the fingerprint out of band and click Pin host key.

  4. Test - prove every step of the connection

    Run the test walks the checks below and then probes the operating system and tools. Fix the first red line and test again.

  5. Onboarding script - prepare the host once

    Enter the addresses the platform connects from, choose whether to install bmp-helper, then Write the script, download it and have the host’s administrator run sudo sh ./<file> on it.

  6. Discovery - find what to back up

    Optionally Discover databases and containers now, then Finish.

Check Passes when
Jump host The jump host opens and forwards to it (only with a jump host).
DNS The name resolves.
TCP The port answers.
SSH handshake The far side speaks SSH.
Host key The host key is the pinned one.
Authentication The credential is accepted.
Clean shell The login shell prints nothing of its own (no banners from .bashrc).
POSIX shell The login shell is POSIX.

Creates the account

The user your credential signs in as, with the platform’s public key - accepted only from the addresses you entered.

Installs bmp-helper

Recommended. One sudoers line lets the account read and restore only under the folders you allow - never a root shell.

Docker group

Optional, and equal to root on that host. Prefer the helper’s docker verbs.

Safe to re-run

Run it again after any change; it only changes what is not already in place.