The announced shutdown of Equinix Metal marks a significant shift in the bare metal infrastructure landscape. For organizations that relied on the platform for production workloads, development environments, and latency‑sensitive deployments, this development introduces both urgency and opportunity.
While service discontinuations can feel disruptive, they also create the perfect moment to reassess infrastructure strategy, optimize performance, and align long‑term hosting decisions with business growth.
In this guide, we’ll explore what the Equinix Metal shutdown means, what actions teams should take now, and how to evaluate the right migration path forward.
Understanding the Impact of the Equinix Metal Shutdown
Equinix Metal built its reputation on delivering automated, on‑demand bare metal – combining the performance of dedicated servers with the flexibility of cloud provisioning.
Because of this model, it became a preferred platform for:
- High‑performance SaaS platforms
- Kubernetes and containerized environments
- Gaming and real‑time applications
- Edge deployments
- Data‑intensive analytics workloads
With the platform now being sunset, customers must begin planning migrations to avoid operational disruption.
This involves far more than relocating servers – it requires infrastructure redesign, testing, and cost modeling.
Immediate Steps Organizations Should Take
Teams running workloads on Equinix Metal should begin structured transition planning as early as possible.
1. Audit Existing Infrastructure
Document workloads, storage volumes, compliance needs, and performance dependencies.
2. Map Application Dependencies
Understand how services communicate, including networking, APIs, and database replication.
3. Evaluate Performance Requirements
Identify which workloads require dedicated hardware versus virtualized environments.
4. Plan Migration Timelines
Build phased transition windows to avoid downtime.
Early preparation ensures broader provider availability and smoother execution.
Migration Is More Than a Lift‑and‑Shift
Bare metal migrations differ significantly from traditional cloud moves.
Hardware Alignment
Workloads may depend on specific CPU architectures, storage configurations, or GPU acceleration.
Network Design
Private connectivity, cross‑connects, and routing policies often require redesign.
Provisioning Lead Time
Dedicated infrastructure may involve deployment planning and capacity reservations.
Cost Structures
Pricing models vary widely – from bandwidth billing to hardware customization.
Because of these factors, provider evaluation becomes just as critical as the migration itself.
Key Factors When Choosing Your Next Infrastructure Provider
Rather than simply replacing Equinix Metal capacity, organizations should evaluate long‑term infrastructure fit.
Performance & Workload Fit
Ensure compute, storage, and I/O capabilities align with application needs.
Global Reach & Latency
Assess proximity to users, IX presence, and routing performance.
Scalability Options
Look for flexible expansion across regions or hybrid layers.
Network Ecosystem
Private interconnects, carrier neutrality, and multi‑cloud connectivity can be crucial.
Support & Customization
Tailored environments often outperform standardized deployments.
Strategic alignment at this stage prevents costly re‑migrations later.
Migration Pathways Organizations Are Exploring
As teams transition off Equinix Metal, three primary infrastructure models are emerging.
Dedicated Bare Metal Environments
Ideal for predictable performance, compliance, and high‑throughput workloads.
Hybrid Infrastructure Models
Combine bare metal core systems with cloud burst capacity.
Private Cloud on Dedicated Hardware
Delivers virtualization flexibility while retaining hardware isolation.
Each pathway balances cost, control, and scalability differently.
Leveraging the Transition as an Optimization Opportunity
Rather than treating migration as a forced move, many organizations are using this moment to modernize infrastructure.
Common optimization initiatives include:
- Reducing hyperscale cloud overspend
- Re‑architecting for multi‑region resilience
- Improving latency routing
- Consolidating vendors
- Enhancing security segmentation
In many cases, post‑migration environments outperform legacy setups in both cost and performance.
The Importance of Early Migration Planning
Starting early delivers measurable advantages:
- Greater provider selection
- Negotiation leverage on pricing
- Sufficient testing windows
- Reduced downtime risk
Delays, on the other hand, can lead to rushed deployments, limited capacity availability, and unexpected performance trade‑offs.
Infrastructure transitions reward proactive planning.
How Netrouting Is Supporting Teams Post‑Equinix Metal
Industry changes of this scale naturally trigger infrastructure reassessment.
Netrouting is currently working with organizations evaluating their next environments – supporting migration planning across:
- Dedicated bare metal deployments
- Hybrid infrastructure design
- Private networking architectures
- Performance benchmarking
- Cost optimization modeling
The focus isn’t just relocation – it’s building infrastructure aligned to long‑term workload strategy, scalability, and network performance.
Building a Future‑Ready Infrastructure Strategy
The sunset of Equinix Metal represents more than a platform transition – it reflects the evolving demands of modern infrastructure.
Organizations now have the opportunity to:
- Reassess workload placement
- Optimize cost structures
- Enhance global performance
- Strengthen redundancy models
Choosing the right provider and architecture today will shape operational resilience for years to come.
Equinix Metal Migration Checklist
For teams planning their transition, here’s a practical high‑level checklist to guide early migration planning:
| Phase | Checklist Area | Key Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Audit | ||
| Workload Inventory | Inventory all active servers and workloads | |
| Hardware Dependencies | Document CPU, RAM, storage, and GPU needs | |
| Performance Review | Identify performance-sensitive applications | |
| Compliance | Review compliance & data residency requirements | |
| Application & Data Mapping | ||
| Service Dependencies | Map service-to-service communication | |
| Database Architecture | Audit databases & replication setups | |
| Data Flow | Identify latency-sensitive flows | |
| Backup Strategy | Review backup & snapshot policies | |
| Network Architecture | ||
| IP & VLANs | Document IP allocations & VLAN structures | |
| Private Connectivity | Review cross-connects | |
| Security Layers | Audit firewalls & load balancers | |
| Traffic Routing | Map DNS & routing policies | |
| Target Environment Planning | ||
| Infra Model | Choose bare metal, hybrid, or private cloud | |
| Deployment Regions | Evaluate geographic locations | |
| Redundancy | Plan failover & high availability | |
| Hardware Sizing | Align specs to workloads | |
| Migration Execution | ||
| Testing Environments | Build staging environments | |
| Benchmarking | Run performance tests | |
| Migration Phasing | Plan phased workload moves | |
| Rollback Planning | Establish fallback procedures | |
| Cost & Commercials | ||
| Pricing Models | Compare provider pricing | |
| Bandwidth Costs | Estimate traffic charges | |
| Scaling Costs | Model burst & growth scenarios | |
| Contracts | Review flexibility & lock-ins |
Need a tailored migration roadmap?
Netrouting’s infrastructure specialists can help assess your current setup, benchmark alternatives, and design a transition plan aligned to your performance and cost goals.
Contact Us →
For teams looking to move quickly and avoid last-minute risk, there are already migration options available.
Avoid Paying for Two Infrastructures During Your Equinix Metal Migration
Migrating away from Equinix Metal often means running both environments in parallel for a period of time — doubling infrastructure costs and increasing operational overhead.
Netrouting helps you make that transition without the added financial strain.
Move your workloads to Netrouting, share your most recent Equinix Metal invoice, and receive 90 days of free service. This allows you to complete your migration while minimizing duplicate OpEx and maintaining service continuity.
What you get:
-
Free, hands-on migration support from infrastructure experts
-
Dedicated environments tailored to your workload requirements
-
Direct access to senior technical support — no layers, no delays
-
High-performance bare metal and hybrid infrastructure built for scale
This isn’t just a migration — it’s a smarter, more cost-efficient way to transition your infrastructure.
Final Thoughts
Service sunsets inevitably introduce complexity – but they also create strategic inflection points.
For teams impacted by the Equinix Metal shutdown, the priority should not simply be finding replacement servers, but designing infrastructure that better supports performance, scalability, and cost efficiency moving forward.
Starting early, testing thoroughly, and partnering with the right infrastructure provider will ensure a smooth transition – and a stronger foundation for future growth.
