An apparatus includes a communications interface and a management server. The management server is configured to access servers through the interface, determine that additional resources are needed for execution by a system, and determine that one of the servers is in a standby mode. In the standby mode, the server is powered down and a baseboard management controller (BMC) therein is only powered through a connection from the apparatus or another server of the network. The management server is configured to determine that additional resources for execution by the system from the server are to be activated and cause a wake-up signal to be sent to the BMC, wherein the wake-up signal is configured to cause the BMC to wake and provision the operating environment of the server.