Open a terminal on your computer and connect with SSH to your server's IP address. With a Self-Managed VPS you have full root access.
What you need
- Your server's IP address, username and access details. You find them in the welcome email we send after your VPS is activated.
- A terminal: Terminal on macOS and Linux, or Windows Terminal / PowerShell on Windows 10 and 11.
Steps
- Open your terminal.
- Run this command. Replace
rootandYOUR_SERVER_IPwith the username and IP address from your welcome email:
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IPIf your welcome email shows a different SSH port, add it with -p, for example ssh -p PORT root@YOUR_SERVER_IP.
- The first time, you will see a question about the server's fingerprint. Type
yesand press Enter. - Enter the password from your welcome email (you will not see the characters while you type), or log in with your SSH key.
- You are now logged in. Update the system first. For example, on Ubuntu:
apt update && apt upgrade -yAvailable operating systems: Ubuntu, AlmaLinux, Debian, Rocky Linux and Kali Linux.
- Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade - AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux:
sudo dnf upgrade
Important: Change the password from the welcome email right away and set up an SSH key.
Important: Never share your root password or private SSH key in chat or email. If support needs access, share it only inside a support ticket.
Important: Reinstalling the operating system erases all data on the server. We do it only after your written confirmation in a ticket.
Tip: Next, secure your server. See the article on basic VPS security.
What we manage on a Self-Managed VPS
You manage the software on the server. We handle the server itself: reinstall, power and network. Reverse DNS (PTR) is set on request through a ticket.