CoreX Hosting

Sign in to your VPS for the first time

My VPS is built. How do I connect to it?

Over SSH as root, using the IP address on the VPS page. If you chose an SSH key when ordering, use that key; if not, read the one-time root password on the VPS page first.

Before you start: An SSH client (built into Windows, macOS and Linux as the ssh command) and, if you used one, your private key.

Step by step

  1. Open your client area and click Manage VPS on the VPS. Copy the IPv4 address under Connect.
  2. If the page says a root password is waiting, click Show root password and copy it somewhere safe. It is shown once only.
  3. Open a terminal and run ssh root@<the IPv4 address>. Type yes when asked to trust the machine the first time.
  4. Sign in with your key (it is used automatically) or paste the password you copied.
  5. If you signed in with a password, change it straight away with the passwd command, and consider adding an SSH key so you no longer need it.
  6. Update the system (for example apt update && apt upgrade on Debian or Ubuntu) before installing anything.

Check it worked: You get a root prompt on the VPS.

Why it happens: A VPS built with an SSH key has no root password at all. One built without a key gets a generated password that is shown once and never emailed.

If SSH says "Connection timed out" although the VPS shows as running and you have no firewall rule blocking port 22, contact support with your service ID.

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