Connecting to your server with SSH

SSH (Secure Shell) is how you log in to a Linux server and run commands. You need three things from the service page in the client area: the server's IP address, the username (usually root) and the password, or the SSH key you added when ordering.

From macOS or Linux

Open the Terminal app and run:

ssh root@YOUR-SERVER-IP

The first time you connect you are asked to confirm the server's fingerprint. Type yes and press Enter, then paste the password. Nothing appears on screen while you type a password; that is normal.

From Windows

Windows 10 and 11 include an SSH client. Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the same command as above. If you prefer a graphical program, install PuTTY, enter the IP address in Host Name, keep port 22 and click Open.

Logging in with an SSH key

Keys are safer than passwords. If you did not add one when ordering, create a key pair on your computer:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

Then copy the public key to the server:

ssh-copy-id root@YOUR-SERVER-IP

From now on you log in without typing the password. Once the key works, you can turn off password logins in /etc/ssh/sshd_config by setting PasswordAuthentication no and restarting SSH.

First steps after logging in

1. Update the system: apt update && apt upgrade -y on Ubuntu or Debian, dnf upgrade -y on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.
2. Create a normal user for daily work and give it sudo rights.
3. Turn on a firewall and allow only the ports you need, for example 22, 80 and 443.

If you cannot connect

• Connection timed out: check that the server shows as Running in the panel, and that your own network does not block port 22.
• Permission denied: copy the password again from the service page, or reset it with Reset password on the same page.
• Locked out by a firewall rule: open the browser console from the service page, which works even when SSH is blocked, and fix the rule there.

Windows servers use Remote Desktop instead of SSH. See the Remote Desktop guide in this help centre.