In {product-title} {product-version}, you can install a cluster on bare
metal infrastructure that you provision with customized network configuration
options. By customizing your network configuration, your cluster can coexist
with existing IP address allocations in your environment and integrate with
existing MTU and VXLAN configurations.
When you customize {product-title} networking, you must set most of the network configuration parameters during installation. You can modify only `kubeProxy` network configuration parameters in a running
cluster.
== Prerequisites
* You reviewed details about the xref:../../../architecture/architecture-installation.adoc#architecture-installation[{product-title} installation and update] processes.
* You read the documentation on xref:../../../installing/overview/installing-preparing.adoc#installing-preparing[selecting a cluster installation method and preparing it for users].
* If you use a firewall and plan to use the Telemetry service, you xref:../../../installing/install_config/configuring-firewall.adoc#configuring-firewall[configured the firewall to allow the sites] that your cluster requires access to.
* See xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-restricted-networks-bare-metal.adoc#installing-restricted-networks-bare-metal[Installing a user-provisioned bare metal cluster on a restricted network] for more information about performing a restricted network installation on bare metal infrastructure that you provision.
* See xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal.adoc#installation-three-node-cluster_installing-bare-metal[Configuring a three-node cluster] for details about deploying three-node clusters in bare metal environments.
* See xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-approve-csrs_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Approving the certificate signing requests for your machines] for more information about approving cluster certificate signing requests after installation.
// Networking requirements for user-provisioned infrastructure
* xref:../../../installing/install_config/installing-customizing.adoc#installation-special-config-chrony_installing-customizing[Configuring chrony time service]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-user-provisioned-validating-dns_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Validating DNS resolution for user-provisioned infrastructure]
* xref:../../../networking/ovn_kubernetes_network_provider/converting-to-dual-stack.adoc#nw-dual-stack-convert_converting-to-dual-stack[Converting to a dual-stack cluster network]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/bare-metal-expanding-the-cluster.adoc#bare-metal-expanding-the-cluster[Expanding the cluster]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#creating-machines-bare-metal_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Installing {op-system} and starting the {product-title} bootstrap process]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-host-names-dhcp-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Setting the cluster node hostnames through DHCP]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-network-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Networking requirements for user-provisioned infrastructure]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-dns-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[User-provisioned DNS requirements]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-user-provisioned-validating-dns_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Validating DNS resolution for user-provisioned infrastructure]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-load-balancing-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Load balancing requirements for user-provisioned infrastructure]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-dns-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[User-provisioned DNS requirements]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-load-balancing-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Load balancing requirements for user-provisioned infrastructure]
* xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installation-config-parameters-bare-metal.adoc#installation-config-parameters-bare-metal[Installation configuration parameters for bare metal]
* See xref:../../../installing/installing_bare_metal/upi/installing-bare-metal-network-customizations.adoc#installation-load-balancing-user-infra_installing-bare-metal-network-customizations[Load balancing requirements for user-provisioned infrastructure] for more information on the API and application ingress load balancing requirements.
* See xref:../../../support/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-installations.adoc#monitoring-installation-progress_troubleshooting-installations[Monitoring installation progress] for more information about monitoring the installation logs and retrieving diagnostic data if installation issues arise.
* See xref:../../../support/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-installations.adoc#installation-bootstrap-gather_troubleshooting-installations[Gathering logs from a failed installation] for details about gathering data in the event of a failed {product-title} installation.
* See xref:../../../support/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-operator-issues.adoc#troubleshooting-operator-issues[Troubleshooting Operator issues] for steps to check Operator pod health across the cluster and gather Operator logs for diagnosis.
* See xref:../../../support/remote_health_monitoring/about-remote-health-monitoring.adoc#about-remote-health-monitoring[About remote health monitoring] for more information about the Telemetry service
== Next steps
* xref:../../../installing/validation_and_troubleshooting/validating-an-installation.adoc#validating-an-installation[Validating an installation].
* xref:../../../post_installation_configuration/cluster-tasks.adoc#available_cluster_customizations[Customize your cluster].
* xref:../../../registry/configuring_registry_storage/configuring-registry-storage-baremetal.adoc#configuring-registry-storage-baremetal[Set up your registry and configure registry storage].