How do I connect to my VPS through SSH?

SSH is the way to manage your Linux VPS: you type commands in a terminal and they are executed on the server. You log in as the user root with the IP address and the password from the e-mail you received after ordering. The panel at vps.mc-node.net is for reinstalling, rebooting and the emergency console; day-to-day management is done through SSH.

What you need

• The IP address of the VPS (in the delivery e-mail and in the panel).
• The username root. The name starting with MN_ in the e-mail is your login for the panel at vps.mc-node.net, not for SSH.
• The password from the e-mail (the same for SSH and the panel).

Windows: PuTTY

1. Download PuTTY from putty.org and start it.
2. Enter the IP address at Host Name, leave the port at 22 and click Open.
3. The first time, PuTTY asks whether you trust the host key; click Accept (or Yes). That prompt is normal and only appears the first time.
4. Type root and press Enter.
5. Paste the password with a right-click in the window and press Enter. No characters or asterisks appear while typing; that is normal.

Windows: Windows Terminal or PowerShell

Windows 10 and 11 have SSH built in. Open Windows Terminal and type ssh [email protected] (with your IP). Confirm the host key with yes, enter the password (paste with right-click or Ctrl+Shift+V) and press Enter.

macOS and Linux

Open the Terminal and type ssh [email protected]. Confirm the host key with yes and enter the password. On macOS you paste with Cmd+V, on Linux with Ctrl+Shift+V or the middle mouse button.

The first steps after logging in

1. Change the password: passwd. Pick a long, unique password.
2. Update the system: apt update && apt upgrade -y (Ubuntu/Debian).
3. Set up SSH keys and then disable password login; that is much safer. See setting up SSH keys.
4. Consider two-factor authentication: 2FA on your VPS.

Common messages

• Connection timed out: the IP is wrong, the VPS is off or still installing. Check in the panel at vps.mc-node.net whether the VPS is running.
• Connection refused: the VPS is running, but SSH is not listening (for example right after a reinstall). Wait a minute or use the console in the panel.
• Permission denied (password): wrong password or wrong username. Use root, not the MN_ name, and make sure no trailing space was pasted with the password.
• WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED: your VPS was reinstalled and has a new host key. Remove the old line from ~/.ssh/known_hosts (the message names the line number) and connect again.
• Windows VPS? There you use Remote Desktop instead of SSH; see connecting with Remote Desktop.

Lost your password?

Reset it through the panel at vps.mc-node.net (under change password for the VPS) or open a ticket. Through the emergency console in the panel you can also reach your VPS without SSH if the network or SSH is not working.

Once you are in, installing a game server or website is the next step; for example installing Java for a Minecraft server or installing Pterodactyl for your own panel.