Equinix Metal has been shutdown. The shutdown has significant implications to organizations who were using it for production environments, development environments, and other use cases where ultra low latency was required.
Service discontinuations can be a harrowing experience, but they also can serve as a timely wake-up call to evaluate your current stack, tweak your application's performance, and make some harder but more strategic hosting decisions as your service grows.
This guide outlines what is happening with the shutdown of Equinix Metal, what your team should next do to prepare for the inevitable shutdown, and a framework for selecting the best solution for your team or organization to migrate off of Metal.
Understanding the Impact of the Equinix Metal Shutdown
Equinix Metal is an entirely new way to think about data center infrastructure. Starting from the ground up, we’ve focused on one simple promise: automated, on-demand bare metal that can be provisioned instantly and fully customized, with the performance of dedicated servers delivered through cloud-like interfaces.
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Because of the way the model is constructed, this watch has become a favourite of ours.
- High‑performance SaaS platforms
- Kubernetes and containerized environments
- Gaming and real‑time applications
- Edge deployments
- Data‑intensive analytics workloads
We are now turning our attention to helping our customers migrate to alternative solutions as this platform has been marked as sunset.
It is not simply a matter of moving the servers to a new physical location. There would need to be a redesign of the required infrastructure, proof of concept trials, and cost modeling before a final decision is made.
Immediate Steps Organizations Should Take
We encourage customers currently running their workloads on Equinix Metal to start planning the transition as soon as possible.
- Audit Existing Infrastructure
Record details on how data is used, storage requirements, relevant compliance, and any performance implications.
- Map Application Dependencies
Services don't exist in a vacuum and therefore interact with other services. Documenting how a service really interacts (networking, how APIs are used, database replication etc.) can be invaluable.
- Evaluate Performance Requirements
A nice easy one! Generally, certain workloads are better suited to running on dedicated, “bare metal
4. Plan Migration Timelines
Build phased transition windows to avoid downtime.
It is highly recommended to start planning early, as the number of service providers is far greater and planning is less complicated.
Migration Is More Than a Lift‑and‑Shift
Most cloud migrations are done in a virtualized environment, or at the very least within a container-based platform. Bare metal migrations are a relatively uncharted territory in the migration world. From a security perspective, however, they are the safest option for any organization.
Hardware Alignment
Workloads can be optimized for specific CPU architectures, storage profiles or GPU compute capabilities.
Network Design
Design private connectivity, cross-connects, and routing.
Provisioning Lead Time
This page is intended to cover planning your dedicated infrastructure deployment and reserved capacity.
Cost Structures
There are many pricing models in the hosting industry. We try to keep track of them all, from bandwidth pricing to custom hardware pricing.
Another factor to consider during an Exchange migration is the provider evaluation process.
Key Factors When Choosing Your Next Infrastructure Provider
While Equinix Metal can be used to replace existing capacity within the Equinix Metal platform, we would argue that it may also serve as a longer-term infrastructure solution for Interxion customers.
Performance & Workload Fit
Ensure the host system has sufficient compute power, storage and I/O capability to run.
Global Reach & Latency
Show proximity to customers, locations with IX points and network performance.
Scalability Options
Support flexible regional expansion or support both single and hybrid layer architectures.
Network Ecosystem
Are Private Interconnects, Carrier Neutrality, and Multi-Cloud Connectivity important to you?
Support & Customization
Tailored environments often outperform standardized deployments.
Strategically decide whether to migrate infrastructure now to avoid larger costs later.
Migration Pathways Organizations Are Exploring
As teams continue to migrate off of Equinix Metal they are settling on several common patterns for production infrastructure.
Dedicated Bare Metal Environments
Ideal for predictable performance, compliance, and high‑throughput workloads.
Hybrid Infrastructure Models
Manage virtual machines on and off the cloud by using 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.
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.
Start Your Migration →
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.
