Short answer: GPU server colocation means placing customer-owned AI hardware in a data center that supplies rack space, electrical power, cooling, internet connectivity and optional remote hands. It is often a good fit for AI companies, GPU server buyers, rendering teams and cloud providers that want dedicated hardware without building their own facility.
What Is GPU Server Colocation?
In a colocation arrangement, the customer owns the server and controls the software. The facility operates the physical environment. Unlike renting a cloud GPU, the customer selects the exact chassis, GPU, CPU, memory, storage and network adapters. Unlike on-premises operation, the customer does not have to maintain building power and cooling.
Why GPU Colocation Is Different
GPU servers consume more power and generate more heat than conventional web servers. A four- or eight-GPU system can require high-amperage circuits, deep racks, careful airflow and high-speed network connections. H200, B300 and liquid-cooled systems may need specialized facility review. “One server” does not always mean a simple deployment.
Information a Facility Needs
| Item | What to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Server model | Manufacturer and exact configuration | Confirms dimensions and compatibility |
| Rack size | Rack units, depth and weight | Determines physical placement |
| Power | Voltage, maximum input and plug type | Sizes circuits and PDUs |
| Cooling | Airflow direction or liquid requirements | Prevents thermal throttling |
| Network | Port speed, IPs, bandwidth and cross-connects | Defines connectivity |
| Management | BMC/IPMI and access policy | Enables remote operation |
Power Planning
Use the complete server’s maximum input rating, not GPU TDP alone. CPUs, DIMMs, NVMe drives, fans, NICs and PSU losses add to consumption. Redundant power supplies do not always mean the server draws twice the power; the OEM power guide explains operating and failover behavior.
Ask about available voltage, A/B feeds, metered or committed power, usable capacity and breaker derating. Provide the exact connector—such as C13, C19 or a higher-capacity option—rather than assuming the data center will adapt it on arrival.
Cooling and Airflow
Rack servers normally use front-to-rear airflow and depend on containment. Consumer GPU cards may use open-air coolers that recirculate heat inside a chassis, making them unsuitable for some rack environments. Validate chassis design and sustained thermal performance before deployment.
For direct liquid cooling, document the cooling distribution unit, supply and return temperatures, flow, pressure, fluid specification, quick-disconnects, monitoring and maintenance responsibility. Liquid-ready hardware still requires a compatible facility loop.
Network Connectivity
Separate internet bandwidth from cluster networking. A public inference service may need committed internet capacity and DDoS planning. Multi-node training needs low-latency east-west communication, often using high-speed Ethernet or InfiniBand. Storage traffic can create a third network requirement.
- Internet commit and burst policy
- Public IPv4/IPv6 allocation
- Cross-connects and carrier options
- Port speed and optics responsibility
- Out-of-band management network
- Private cluster fabric and RDMA support
What Are Remote Hands?
Remote hands are physical tasks performed by facility staff or an on-site service team. Typical work includes receiving equipment, rack installation, cable changes, visual inspection, power cycling and replacing a customer-provided component. Scope, response time and billing vary, so define them before an outage.
Remote hands do not replace system administration. The customer or managed-service provider still handles the operating system, drivers, containers, security and application unless those services are included separately.
Security and Access
Confirm visitor procedures, equipment authorization and access scheduling. At the system level, use encrypted remote management, strong authentication, network segmentation and logging. Change default BMC credentials before production. Data-center physical security does not eliminate software security responsibilities.
Deployment Workflow
- Configuration review: share the complete bill of materials and data sheets.
- Facility validation: confirm rack, power, cooling and networking.
- Pre-shipment testing: update firmware, run diagnostics and record serial numbers.
- Receiving: agree on shipping labels, insurance and damage inspection.
- Rack and cable: install rails, power feeds, management and production networks.
- Burn-in: test sustained load, temperature, error logs and connectivity.
- Handoff: document access, monitoring, support and escalation procedures.
Single-Server Colocation
A small AI company does not need to begin with a full rack. One properly designed GPU server can support development, dedicated inference, rendering or an early cloud service. The important question is whether the facility can support its density and chassis—not the number of servers.
Plan expansion early. Reserve switch ports, IP capacity, rack power and adjacent space where possible. Moving a production GPU server later can be more disruptive than allowing a modest growth path from the beginning.
Managed GPU Hosting vs Colocation
Colocation provides the physical environment. Managed hosting adds operational services such as OS installation, driver configuration, monitoring, patch coordination or troubleshooting. Service definitions vary. Ask exactly which layers are covered, who owns credentials and what happens during a hardware failure.
Common Mistakes
- Ordering hardware before validating facility power and cooling.
- Using GPU TDP instead of full-system maximum input.
- Ignoring rack depth, rail compatibility or weight.
- Assuming consumer GPU cooling works in a server chassis.
- Under-sizing storage or east-west network bandwidth.
- Shipping without remote-management configuration.
- Failing to define remote-hands authority and escalation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I colocate one GPU server?
Yes. Single-server deployments are common when the exact rack, power, cooling and network requirements are validated.
Who owns the GPU server?
In colocation, the customer owns the hardware. The facility supplies space and infrastructure under the service agreement.
Can a data center host RTX 5090 servers?
Potentially, if the chassis is rack-compatible and its power, airflow and cabling are approved. Consumer-card designs require careful review.
What should I send for a hosting quote?
Provide server model, GPU count, rack units, maximum power, voltage, cooling method, bandwidth, IP and remote-hands needs.
Where does Desert Eagle AI provide hosting?
Desert Eagle AI offers U.S.-based GPU hosting and colocation planning. Send your configuration for an availability and deployment review.
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