Connecting to your new VPS over SSH: first login and first steps
PrintA new VPS is managed from the command line over SSH. For the first login you need three things: the server's IP address, the root user and its password. This guide shows how to connect from Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to do right after you are in.
Where the login details are
- in the e-mail sent when the server was activated;
- on the VPS page in the Services section of your client area.
Copy the IP address exactly as shown. A mistyped digit is the most common reason a first connection fails.
Connecting from your computer
Windows
Windows 10 and 11 ship with an SSH client. Open PowerShell and type ssh root@IP_ADDRESS. If you prefer a program with a window, use PuTTY: put the IP address in the Host Name field, keep port 22 and press Open.
macOS and Linux
Open Terminal and run the same command: ssh root@IP_ADDRESS.
The very first connection
You will be asked whether to trust the server's key. Type yes and press Enter, then enter the password. Nothing is echoed while you type, not even asterisks, so type carefully and press Enter at the end.
Right after you log in
- Set a password only you know with
passwd. - Install system updates:
apt update && apt upgradeon Ubuntu or Debian,dnf upgradeon AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux or CentOS Stream. - Recommended: switch to SSH key login. On your own computer create a key with
ssh-keygen -t ed25519, then copy it to the server withssh-copy-id root@IP_ADDRESS(macOS and Linux). A key is far harder to guess than a password.
On a VPS Pro, security setup and updates are part of the included administration, so you can ask the TopHost team to handle them. On an Unmanaged VPS they are your job.
Common error messages
- Connection timed out: no answer from the server. Make sure the IP address is right and that the client area shows the server as running. If it is running, log in through the noVNC console.
- Connection refused: the server answers but the SSH service is not accepting connections. Check it from the noVNC console.
- Permission denied: the user name or password is wrong. Type the password by hand, without spaces before or after it.
For a full check, follow Cannot reach your VPS: a step-by-step check.
Good to know
Which port does SSH listen on?
A fresh server uses the standard port 22. If you moved SSH to another port later, add it to the command: ssh -p PORT root@IP_ADDRESS.
I no longer have the root password
Open a ticket from your client area and we will help you get access back. Never put passwords in the ticket text.
My VPS runs Windows. Is it SSH too?
No. A Windows server is reached with Remote Desktop (RDP), using the details from the activation e-mail.
Do I need to know Linux?
For an Unmanaged VPS, yes: security, updates and monitoring are in your hands. If you would rather leave that to us, VPS Pro is the better fit.
