How to Connect to Your Cloud VPS Using SSH Print

•  
• SSH username
• Password or SSH key
• SSH port

For many Linux VPS installations, the administrative username is typically:

root

However, some operating systems or configurations may use a different username.

You can find your service details in your ApnCloud Client Area or activation information.

2. Connect from Windows

On modern Windows systems, you can use Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt if the SSH client is available.

Open your terminal and enter:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

For example:

ssh [email protected]

Replace the example IP address with your actual VPS IP address.

If your server uses a different SSH username, replace root with the correct username.

3. Connect Using a Custom SSH Port

If SSH is configured to use a port other than the default port, specify the port when connecting.

Example:

ssh -p PORT username@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Use the SSH port configured on your own server.

4. Connect from macOS or Linux

On macOS or Linux, open the Terminal application and use the same SSH command:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Press Enter to continue.

5. Confirm the Server Fingerprint

When connecting to a VPS for the first time, SSH may display a message asking whether you trust the server fingerprint.

Verify that you are connecting to the correct server before accepting the fingerprint.

After confirmation, your computer will normally remember the server fingerprint for future connections.

6. Enter Your Password

If your server uses password authentication, enter the VPS password when prompted.

While typing the password, you may not see any characters appear on the screen. This is normal behavior in many SSH terminals.

Enter the password carefully and press Enter.

7. Successful SSH Login

If your login information is correct, you should receive access to the server command line.

You are now connected to your Cloud VPS.

From here, you may be able to:

• Update the operating system
• Install packages
• Configure a web server
• Manage files
• Configure databases
• Review system logs
• Monitor server resources
• Configure security settings

Only run commands that you understand, especially when logged in with administrative privileges.

8. Using SSH Keys

For improved security, experienced users may choose to use SSH key-based authentication instead of relying only on passwords.

SSH keys consist of a private key and a public key.

The private key should remain secure on your own device, while the public key is added to the server.

Never share your private SSH key.

9. Common SSH Connection Problems

If you cannot connect to your VPS, check the following:

• VPS is powered on
• VPS IP address is correct
• SSH username is correct
• SSH port is correct
• Password is correct
• SSH service is running
• Your firewall allows SSH traffic
• Your local internet connection is working

You may also see errors such as:

Connection timed out
This may indicate a network, firewall, or port-related issue.

Connection refused
This may indicate that the SSH service is not running or is not listening on the expected port.

Permission denied
This usually means the login credentials, key, or authentication settings are incorrect.

10. Disconnect from Your VPS

When you are finished managing the server, you can close the SSH session by entering:

exit

Then press Enter.

Important Security Recommendations

Because SSH provides powerful administrative access to your VPS:

• Use a strong password
• Keep your operating system updated
• Never share root credentials
• Protect your SSH private keys
• Configure firewall rules carefully
• Disable unnecessary services
• Review unauthorized login attempts
• Create regular backups

Important: Unmanaged VPS Responsibility

ApnCloud Cloud VPS Hosting is an unmanaged VPS service.

Customers are responsible for managing and securing their own server, including SSH configuration, software installation, operating system updates, firewall settings, backups, and applications.

Need Help?

If your VPS is active but you are unable to establish a network connection to the server, please open a Support Ticket from your ApnCloud Client Area.

Provide your VPS IP address, the error message you receive, and a brief description of the issue. Never send your root password or private SSH key in a support ticket.