Getting started with a VPS

You have just ordered a VPS and received an IP address and a root password on your tracking page. Here is how to take control of it properly.

Connecting

From a terminal (Linux, macOS, or Windows with the built-in terminal):

ssh root@YOUR_IP

Enter the initial password shown on your tracking page. You are now on your server.

Secure it right away

Three steps are enough to shut out the vast majority of automated attacks.

1. Change the root password — or better, switch to an SSH key. On your local machine, generate a key if you don’t have one:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519
ssh-copy-id root@YOUR_IP

Then, on the server, disable password authentication in /etc/ssh/sshd_config (PasswordAuthentication no) and reload: systemctl reload ssh.

2. Update. On Debian/Ubuntu:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

3. Enable a simple firewall. Only open what you actually need:

apt install -y ufw
ufw allow OpenSSH
ufw enable

Create a non-root user

Working as root all the time is risky. Create a user with sudo:

adduser you
usermod -aG sudo you

Then reconnect with ssh you@YOUR_IP.

What next?

The VPS is yours: install a web server, a database, Docker, whatever you want. If you would rather not manage all of this yourself, our managed web hosting or managed WordPress takes care of it for you.