diff --git a/roles/base/tasks/main.yml b/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
index 025c8b0..13d651e 100644
--- a/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/base/tasks/main.yml
@@ -513,6 +513,62 @@
     - ownership
   tags: base-cmkagent
 
+# backups
+- name: create backup directory
+  file:
+    dest: /srv/backups
+    state: directory
+  tags: base-backups
+
+- name: install daily backup script
+  template:
+    src: etc/cron.daily/pvc-backup.j2
+    dest: /etc/cron.daily/pvc-backup
+    mode: 0755
+  tags: base-backups
+
+- name: install GRUB configuration
+  template:
+    src: etc/default/grub.j2
+    dest: /etc/default/grub
+  notify:
+    - update grub
+  tags: base-grub
+
+- name: install IPMI network interfaces fragment
+  template:
+    src: etc/network/interfaces.d/ipmi.j2
+    dest: /etc/network/interfaces.d/ipmi
+  tags: base-ipmi
+
+- name: configure IPMI username
+  command: "ipmitool user set name {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['id'] }} {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['username'] }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "admin"
+    - "pvc"
+  tags: base-ipmi
+
+- name: configure IPMI password
+  command: "ipmitool user set password {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['id'] }} {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['password'] }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "admin"
+    - "pvc"
+  tags: base-ipmi
+
+- name: configure IPMI role
+  command: "ipmitool user priv {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['id'] }} {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['role'] }} {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware]['channel'] }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "admin"
+    - "pvc"
+  tags: base-ipmi
+
+- name: enable IPMI user
+  command: "ipmitool user enable {{ ipmi_user_configuration[cluster_hardware][item]['id'] }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "admin"
+    - "pvc"
+  tags: base-ipmi
+
 #
 # Configure users
 #
diff --git a/roles/base/templates/etc/cron.daily/pvc-backup.j2 b/roles/base/templates/etc/cron.daily/pvc-backup.j2
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..524011b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/base/templates/etc/cron.daily/pvc-backup.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Backup the PVC Zookeeper database
+# {{ ansible_managed }}
+
+set -o errexit
+
+BACKUP_DIR="/srv/backups/"
+BACKUP_FILENAME_BASE="pvc-zookeeper-backup"
+DATE="$( date +%Y%m%d )"
+BACKUP_FILENAME="${BACKUP_DIR}/${BACKUP_FILENAME_BASE}.${DATE}.json"
+
+pvc -c local task backup > ${BACKUP_FILENAME}
+xz ${BACKUP_FILENAME}
+find ${BACKUP_DIR} -type f -name "${BACKUP_FILENAME_BASE}*" -mtime +7 -exec rm {} \;
diff --git a/roles/base/templates/etc/default/grub.j2 b/roles/base/templates/etc/default/grub.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5315dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/base/templates/etc/default/grub.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# GRUB configuration
+# {{ ansible_managed }}
+GRUB_DEFAULT=0
+GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
+GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
+GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="{{ grub_cmdline_default }}"
+GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
+GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT="console serial"
+GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT="gfxterm serial"
+GRUB_SERIAL_COMMAND="serial --unit=0 --speed=115200"
diff --git a/roles/base/templates/etc/network/interfaces.d/ipmi.j2 b/roles/base/templates/etc/network/interfaces.d/ipmi.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42ab066
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/base/templates/etc/network/interfaces.d/ipmi.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+iface ipmi inet manual
+    pre-up ipmitool lan set 1 ipsrc static
+    pre-up ipmitool lan set 1 ipaddr {{ ipmi['hosts'][ansible_hostname]['address'] }}
+    pre-up ipmitool lan set 1 netmask {{ ipmi['hosts'][ansible_hostname]['netmask'] }}
+    pre-up ipmitool lan set 1 defgw ipaddr {{ ipmi['hosts'][ansible_hostname]['gateway'] }}