Packet (Equinix)

Overview

Equinix's Packet is a bare metal automation cloud platform (now Equinix Metal) offering on-demand single-tenant bare metal servers. Unlike traditional bare metal, Packet enables fully automated management via API, letting users get dedicated server resources within minutes. Leveraging the Equinix global data center network, Packet provides nodes in major markets, suited to HPC, GPU-accelerated, and physically isolated workloads.

Packet was acquired by Equinix in 2020 and consolidated under the Equinix Metal brand, continuing as Equinix's bare metal cloud service.

Key Strengths

• Equinix Global Network: Leveraging the Equinix global data center network across 30+ markets.
• API-Driven Automation: Fully automated management with 0 manual intervention, RESTful API and Terraform integration.
• Minute-Level Deployment: Dedicated servers provisioned within minutes.
• NVIDIA GPU Instances: NVIDIA GPU servers for AI training and rendering.
• Physical Isolation: Single-tenant dedicated hardware meeting compliance and security requirements.

Product Ecosystem

Bare Metal Servers

Automated bare metal instances with multiple hardware configs for HPC—see bare metal vs. cloud server comparison.

GPU Instances

NVIDIA GPU servers for AI/ML training and rendering—see the GPU cloud server comparison.

Global Nodes

Global coverage via Equinix data centers for nearby deployment.

API & Automation

Full RESTful API and Terraform integration supporting infrastructure as code.

Limitations

• Primarily Enterprise: Services and pricing target enterprises with a higher usage barrier.
• Higher than Traditional VPS: Bare metal pricing is higher than virtualized VPS.
• Brand Consolidated: Acquired by Equinix in 2020, operating under the Equinix Metal brand.

Use Cases

• High-Performance Computing (★★★★★): Workloads requiring massive compute resources.
• AI/ML Training (★★★★★): GPU instances for machine learning and deep learning.
• Compliance Scenarios (★★★★): Finance and government industries needing physical isolation.
• Global Deployment (★★★★): Global deployment via the Equinix network.
• China-Focused Users (★★): Nodes mainly overseas; evaluate international links—see the cross-border website guide.

Pricing

Hourly or monthly billing; see the official site for current pricing—see the GPU cloud server comparison.

FAQ

• What is Packet called now? After the 2020 Equinix acquisition, it was consolidated under the Equinix Metal brand—see bare metal vs. cloud server comparison.
• Who is it for? Primarily enterprises needing HPC, GPU acceleration, and physical isolation—see bare metal vs. cloud server comparison.
• Which hardware is supported? Multiple bare metal configs and NVIDIA GPU instances for AI training and rendering—see the GPU cloud server comparison.
• How is deployment done? Automated deployment via API within minutes with Terraform integration—see the cloud server configuration guide.