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SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure way to control your Linux server by typing commands. This guide shows you how to log in to your HostCloud VPS for the first time.

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What you need

To open the server panel, click Services in the top menu (page: My Products & Services), then open your VPS.
The VPS server panel in the Client Area, showing the server name, Main IP, Power, Restart and Console buttons, and the Overview, Network, Reinstall, Firewall, Snapshots, Backups and Logs tabs

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Connect

In the commands below, replace 203.0.113.10 with your server’s IP address.
Windows 10 and 11 include SSH, so you don’t need to install anything.
1

Open PowerShell

Press the Windows key, type PowerShell and open it.
2

Connect

Type this and press Enter:
3

Accept the server's fingerprint

The first time you connect, you’ll be asked whether you trust the server. Type yes and press Enter.
4

Enter your password

Paste or type the password from your welcome email and press Enter. Nothing appears on screen while you type. That’s normal.
When you see a command prompt ending in #, you’re logged in as root.
If your welcome email gives a different SSH port, add it to the command with -p. For example, ssh -p 2222 root@203.0.113.10.
root has full control of your server. Change the password from your welcome email after you first log in, and never share it. You can also add an SSH key when you reinstall your server from the Reinstall tab, so you can log in without a password.

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Forgot the root password?

1

Open the Overview tab

On the server panel, click the Overview tab and find Root Credentials.
2

Reset the password

Leave the reset method as Password (default) and click Reset Password.

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Can’t connect?

Check that the server is running: the server panel should show Running. If it doesn’t, use Power to start it, or click Restart. If you’ve set up a firewall on the Firewall tab or inside the server, make sure it allows SSH.
The password is wrong. Copy it again carefully, with no extra spaces, or reset it as shown above.
Click Console on the server panel. It opens your server’s screen in your browser, so you can log in and fix the problem even when SSH isn’t working.
HostCloud VPS plans are semi-managed. We help with server access and the network, and you look after the software on your server. See Support hours and what we cover.
Still stuck? Open a ticket with your server’s IP address and the exact error message.