Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring new nodes for using a storage system managed by a unified storage manager (USM) are disclosed. An example method may comprise detecting, by a processing device executing a unified storage manager (USM), a connection of a machine to the USM, invoking a provisioning component of the USM to initiate a provisioning process for the machine, utilizing, via the provisioning process, an external provisioning service to cause a bootstrapping process to execute on the machine, the bootstrapping process to install an operating system (OS) on the machine and to execute a kickstart file on the machine, responsive to execution of the kickstart file, performing a handshake process with the machine to establish a communication channel between the USM and the machine, and receiving, via the established communication channel, an availability status of the machine as a storage node for storage services managed by the USM.