First SSH Login to Your Linux VPS

Who this is for:
Linux VPS customers.

Overview:
SSH is the standard way to securely connect to a Linux VPS.

What you need before starting:

• VPS IP address

• root password or SSH private key

• terminal or SSH client

Using Terminal on Linux or macOS:
Run:

Using PuTTY on Windows:

1. Open PuTTY.

2. Enter your VPS IP address.

3. Port should usually be 22.

4. Click Open.

5. Accept the server fingerprint if prompted.

6. Enter username root and your password.

What to do after first login:

• change the root password if needed

• create a new sudo user

• update the operating system

• configure the firewall

• secure SSH access

How to verify it worked:
You should see a terminal prompt on the server.

Common mistakes:

• using the wrong IP

• blocked port 22

• incorrect password

• copy-paste spacing issues

When to contact support:
Contact support if SSH is refused, times out, or fails with valid credentials.