--- title: MAAS Outside the Lines description: Far from the humdrum of server setups, this is about unusual deployments – Raspberry Pis, loose laptops, cheap NUCs, home appliances, and more. What the heck is stormrider deploying this week? […] url: https://canonical.com/blog/maas-outside-the-lines?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Bill Wear](https://canonical.com/blog/author/billwear "More about Bill Wear") on 10 October 2023 # MAAS Outside the Lines [cloud](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/cloud) [experimental](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/experimental) [Hardware](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/hardware) [MAAS](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/maas) [Server](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/server) [server provisioning](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/server-provisioning) Share on:* [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.canonical.com/blog/maas-outside-the-lines "Share on Facebook") * [Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?text=MAAS%20Outside%20the%20Lines&url=https://www.canonical.com/blog/maas-outside-the-lines&hashtags=ubuntu "Share on Twitter") * [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.canonical.com/blog/maas-outside-the-lines&title=MAAS%20Outside%20the%20Lines "Share on LinkedIn") --- --- ## Newsletter signup Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy). Sign up #### *Beyond traditional deployments* As technological tapestry, MAAS (Metal-as-a-Service) has definitely woven in intricate automation of physical server provisioning. But why stop at just servers? When I examine the vast landscape of tech around me, from the most potent servers to everyday devices humming in our homes, I see potential uncharted territory, ready for MAAS to explore. > *Key lessons from this session* > > Network edge cases require thought and experimentation. > Start small and build slowly; don’t expect instant results. ## Parachuting out of the comfort zone While the default application of MAAS lies in streamlining server deployments, a recent delve into community forums has unearthed fascinating experiments: * **Raspberry Pi cluster deployment**: From orchestrating Kubernetes to Xen Hypervisor, hobbyists are fiddling with MAAS to streamline their Raspberry Pi clusters. * **Integration with popular platforms**: Community members are dabbling in integrating MAAS with platforms like PFSense, FreeBSD, and even KVM guests. * **Exploring niche hardware**: Venturing into the specifics, there’s chatter about deploying on specialized hardware like Dell boss N-1 cards, NVIDIA GPUs, and Data Processing Units (DPUs). But let’s not stop at forums. Let’s journey further and explore MAAS’ potential on a broader scale. ## Deploying *everything* with MAAS Picture this: A YouTube series titled “Deploying Everything with MAAS”. Far from the humdrum of server setups, this is about unusual deployments – Raspberry Pis, loose laptops, cheap NUCs, home appliances, and more. The idea? Every episode raises the question: “What the heck is stormrider deploying this week?” Here’s why this vision isn’t just a whimsical fantasy: * **Diverse audience appeal**: A series spanning a broad range of devices promises to resonate with everyone, from MAAS neophytes to experts and the simply curious. * **Stealth learning**: It’s learning without the lecture. Viewers acquire hands-on skills, watching and replicating deployments. * **Highlighting MAAS**: This is MAAS stepping out of the shadows and stretching its capabilities to the limit, so you can see how it works. * **Uniqueness**: Ever seen a Bluetooth kettle being deployed via MAAS? Neither have we. And that’s precisely the point! * **Potential collaborations**: The series can usher in partnerships with device manufacturers, expanding reach and resources. That’s not to say that every CPU-enabled piece of hardware out there can *be* deployed, but we may learn a lot by trying anyway. ## Walk, don’t run To translate vision into reality, we have a budding plan: * **Kaizen content structure**: Start simple, then escalate. Ensure all viewers, regardless of their expertise, remain hooked. * **Varied gear & setup**: Be it a flea market find or a tech convention, the hunt for quirky, deployable devices will be half the fun. * **Narrative craft**: This isn’t just a tech tutorial. It’s a story of exploration, challenges, and triumphs. A blend of instruction and entertainment ensures the series remains etched in viewers’ minds. * **Community-centric**: What should stormrider deploy next? Keeping the community looped in ensures a continuous influx of fresh ideas and shared experiences. The MAAS terrain, vast and not fully charted, beckons. With the envisioned series, we aim to traverse its length and breadth, discovering new horizons. ## What do *you* think? Should we embark on this expedition? [Join us, share your insights, tell us what you think.](https://discourse.maas.io/t/maas-outside-the-lines/7478) Let’s consider exploring the full spectrum of what MAAS offers. > stormrider, 73 #### Related posts --- [David Beamonte](https://canonical.com/blog/author/dbeamonte) 14 July 2026 ### [MAAS installation: bare metal provisioning is easier than ever](https://canonical.com/blog/maas-installation-bare-metal-provisioning-is-easier-than-ever) Cloud and Infrastructure Ubuntu tech blog MAAS brings cloud-like automation to physical servers. It helps teams discover, commission, deploy, and repurpose machines from a central control plane, turning bare metal into a programmable resource. But to experience that value, users first need to get MAAS up and running. That path is now cleaner and easier to follow. 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