# Replacing a failed Rancher Instance

**URL:** <https://forums.suse.com/t/replacing-a-failed-rancher-instance/20105>\
**Category:** SUSE Rancher Prime\
**Created:** [April 20, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/replacing-a-failed-rancher-instance/20105 "2021-04-20T16:10:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zorlack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/zorlack/32/5685_2.png) [@zorlack](https://forums.suse.com/u/zorlack)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/replacing-a-failed-rancher-instance/20105/1 "2021-04-20T16:10:32Z")

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Hi Everyone,

We’ve been running Rancher (2.5.7) to manage a 5 node cluster but recently had a server crash which has left us unable to start docker, and unable to backup our Rancher instance.

The cluster is happily ticking away, but without Rancher we have no front-end.

How can I replace a failed Rancher instance?

What happens if I stand up a new Rancher instance and import the cluster using the “register cluster” commands?

Many thanks!

-Dave

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**Author:** ![guneetbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@guneetbh](https://forums.suse.com/u/guneetbh)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 4:48am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/replacing-a-failed-rancher-instance/20105/2 "2021-06-03T04:48:16Z")

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Hi Zorlock,

As per documentation - we can import existing clusters in Rancher from UI. You can stand a new Rancher instance and import the cluster using - import option in the Rancher UI.

> **[Importing Existing Clusters](https://rancher.com/docs/rancher/v2.x/en/cluster-provisioning/imported-clusters/)**
>
> Learn how you can import an existing Kubernetes cluster and then manage it using Rancher

Hope it helps!