First steps on your vServer
Once you have received your access details, complete these steps before you set up your actual software.
1. Log in
Log in with the program of your choice, using the terminal on Linux and macOS or the Command Prompt or PuTTY on Windows:
ssh root@your-server-address
If that is not possible, you can reach your system via the console in the customer portal, even if the network on the server is not working.
2. Change the password and set up key-based login
Change the password you received immediately with passwd. Logging in with a key pair is considerably more secure: you create the key on your computer and store the public part on the server. You can then disable password login.
3. Install updates
Right after handover, some security updates are usually missing:
- AlmaLinux and Rocky:
dnf upgrade -y - Debian and Ubuntu:
apt update && apt upgrade -y
Then set up automatic security updates.
4. Set up the firewall
Open only the services that must be reachable from outside, usually remote access and the web server. Everything else stays closed. On AlmaLinux, use firewalld, on Debian and Ubuntu ufw or nftables.
5. Check that everything is running
Then check the state of the system: systemctl --failed shows failed services, df -h the disk usage and free -m the RAM. If you offer a service to the outside, test it from another computer. Locally, it responds even if the firewall blocks it from outside.
If you are locked out
An incorrect firewall rule or a failed change to remote access locks you out. There are two ways back in, both in the customer portal: the console, which works independently of the server's network, and the rescue system. For containers, your server's file system is already mounted there. For KVM servers, a standalone rescue system starts in which you mount your disk yourself. This gives you access to configuration files even if the installed system no longer boots.
Frequently asked questions
Which access details do I need?
The address and IP addresses are listed in the customer portal under the respective server. There you can also set a new root password and change the name of the system.
Can I change the operating system?
Yes, via the reinstallation in the customer portal. This deletes all data on the server, so back up anything you want to keep beforehand.
How do I get an SSL certificate?
On a vServer, you set this up yourself, usually with Let's Encrypt via certbot or acme.sh. The domain must already point to the IP address of the server.
What if I need more resources?
You can switch to a larger plan without a reinstallation. On KVM servers, RAM and CPU cores are available after a restart. There, you extend the partition and file system yourself within the operating system.
What we take care of
Hardware, network, power and the availability of the platform are our responsibility. Everything within the operating system is yours. If you would like to hand this over, add our server management service, and we take care of updates and monitoring.
See also: vServer or web hosting? Managed services and monitoring Technology and data center