Signing in over SSH for the first time

You connect to the server over SSH as root. You need its IP address (from the server panel) and the root password.

• Windows 10 and 11, macOS, Linux - open a terminal (on Windows: PowerShell) and type: ssh root@IP_ADDRESS
• PuTTY or Termius work too.

On the first connection the program asks whether you trust the server's key - answer yes. Then enter the password (nothing is shown while you type - that is normal).

No password, or forgotten it? Generate a new one in the server panel - see the root password article.

First steps after signing in

1. Update the system: apt update && apt upgrade (Ubuntu, Debian) or dnf upgrade (AlmaLinux, Rocky, Fedora).
2. Add your SSH key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys and turn off password sign-in in /etc/ssh/sshd_config (PasswordAuthentication no). Keys are far safer than a password.
3. Turn on a firewall and leave only the ports you need open (e.g. ufw allow 22, 80, 443).

Locked yourself out of SSH? The console in the server panel works regardless of network and firewall - sign in there and fix the configuration.