A Domain India VPS is a self-managed Linux server, and SSH (Secure Shell) is how you run it: an encrypted command line to your server from your own computer. This guide shows how to connect for the first time with an SSH key you add on your VPS page, how to connect from Windows, macOS and Linux, and how to move to key-based login straight away.
Find your VPS's IP address in the email you received when the server was set up; it has no password. Add your SSH public key on the Rebuild tab of your VPS page, then open a terminal (or PowerShell on Windows), run ssh root@your-vps-ip and confirm the fingerprint. SSH password login is off on our images. Then create a sudo user and keep password login off. If you can't connect, check the IP, port 22 and the firewall, or use the Console tab.
1. What you need before you connect
- An active VPS. Your order and invoice are listed in the client area under Services.
- The server's IP address and your SSH key. The IP is in your VPS email and on your VPS page (VPS & Servers › your VPS). Add your public key on the Rebuild tab under SSH keys; it works at once. We never email passwords, and SSH password login is off on our images.
- An SSH client. Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux all include the
sshcommand. PuTTY is an optional alternative on Windows. - The SSH port. A new VPS listens on the standard port, 22, unless you have changed it yourself.
On a VPS you log in as root and manage the whole server. Shared hosting (cPanel, DirectAdmin, Webuzo) works differently: jailed SSH is available on every shared plan, is off by default, and uses key-only login once support enables it. For shared hosting, follow enabling and accessing jailed SSH instead.
2. Connect from Windows, macOS or Linux
The built-in ssh command works the same way on every system. On Windows, open PowerShell or Windows Terminal; on macOS and Linux, open Terminal. Then run:
ssh [email protected]Replace 203.0.113.10 with your VPS's IP address. If you moved SSH to another port, add -p and the port number, for example ssh -p 2222 [email protected].
The first time you connect, you'll see a message like this:
The authenticity of host '203.0.113.10' can't be established.
ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:...
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?Type yes and press Enter. Your computer saves the server's fingerprint and will warn you if it ever changes. You are then logged in with your key; if ssh asks for a key passphrase, that is the one you set when you made the key.
When you're in, the prompt looks something like root@your-hostname:~#.
3. Connect with PuTTY (optional, Windows)
- Install PuTTYfrom its official download page at
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/. Note that putty.org is not PuTTY's site, so don't download it from there. - Enter the server.In Host Name (or IP address), type your VPS's IP address. Leave Port at 22 and Connection type at SSH.
- Save the session.Type a name under Saved Sessions and click Save, so you don't have to retype it next time.
- Click Open.Accept the host key the first time, log in as
rootwith your key loaded (section 5 shows how to load a key in PuTTY).
4. First things to do after you log in
A server with a public IP address starts receiving automated login attempts within minutes, so don't leave password login on for long.
- Set a root password for the console (optional).Set one on the Rebuild tab of your VPS page, or run
passwd. It is for the Console tab; SSH stays key-only. - Update the system.On Ubuntu or Debian:
apt update && apt full-upgrade -y. On AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux:dnf upgrade -y. Reboot if the kernel was updated. - Create your own user with sudo.On Ubuntu or Debian:
adduser deploythenusermod -aG sudo deploy. On AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux:adduser deploy,passwd deploy, thenusermod -aG wheel deploy. - Add your SSH key.From your own computer, run
ssh-copy-id deploy@your-vps-ip(see the next section if you don't have a key yet) and check that key login works. - Turn off password and root login.Set
PasswordAuthentication noandPermitRootLogin noin the SSH configuration, then reload SSH. - Turn on a firewallthat allows only SSH and the ports your applications need, such as 80 and 443 for a website.
Before you reload SSH with password login switched off, open a second terminal and confirm that you can log in with your key. Keep the first session open until the new login works. If you do get locked out, open the Console tab on your VPS page and fix it from there.
The full hardening steps, including drop-in configuration files, fail2ban and firewall rules, are in the SSH security hardening checklist for a VPS.
5. Switch to SSH key login
An SSH key is a pair of files: a private key that stays on your computer and a public key you place on the server. Keys can't be guessed like passwords.
Create a key on your computer (Windows PowerShell, macOS or Linux):
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"Accept the default location and set a passphrase. Then copy the public key to your server:
ssh-copy-id [email protected]Windows doesn't include ssh-copy-id. Instead, open C:\Users\YOU\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub, copy its single line, and on the server add it to /home/deploy/.ssh/authorized_keys. The folder must be chmod 700 and the file chmod 600, owned by the user.
To save typing, add an entry to ~/.ssh/config on your computer:
Host myvps
HostName 203.0.113.10
User deploy
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519Now ssh myvps is enough. For PuTTY keys and more detail, see generating SSH keys and SSH key authentication setup.
6. Copy files over SSH
The same login works for file transfers, so you don't need FTP on a VPS:
# Upload a file
scp site.zip [email protected]:/home/deploy/
# Sync a folder (only changed files are sent)
rsync -avz ./public/ [email protected]:/var/www/example/Graphical tools such as FileZilla and WinSCP also support SFTP with the same username, key and port.
7. When the connection fails
| Message | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Connection timed out | Wrong IP, a firewall rule you added, or SSH on another port | Check the IP on your VPS page, try -p with your custom port, and check your own network allows outgoing SSH |
| Connection refused | The SSH service isn't running or listens on another port | Check the port; if you can't get in at all, contact support |
| Permission denied (publickey) | Password login is off and your key isn't on the server or not being offered | Use ssh -i path/to/key and check the key is in the right user's authorized_keys |
| Permission denied (password) | SSH password login is off on our images | Add your SSH key on the Rebuild tab of your VPS page and connect with it; the root password works on the Console tab |
| REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED | The server was reinstalled or its key changed | If you reinstalled it, run ssh-keygen -R your-vps-ip and reconnect; if you didn't, stop and contact support |
| Blocked after several failed tries | fail2ban or a firewall on your own server banned your IP | Connect from another network and unban yourself, or contact support |
For more detail, ssh -v root@your-vps-ip prints each step of the connection and usually shows where it stops.
8. Domain India VPS plans
Every Domain India VPS uses KVM virtualization with full root access and NVMe storage. VPS plans are self-managed: you look after updates, security and the software you install. A VPS comes without a control panel; you can install one yourself, and cPanel isn't offered on a VPS.
- 1 vCPU
- 2 GB DDR4 RAM
- 64 GB NVMe SSD Storage
- 2 TB Monthly Bandwidth
If you'd rather not manage a server, shared hosting or the App Platform may suit you better; see VPS vs shared hosting.
Where do I find my VPS's IP address and root password?
The IP address is in your VPS email and on your VPS page (VPS & Servers › your VPS). We never email passwords. Add your SSH public key on the Rebuild tab of your VPS page and connect with ssh root@your-vps-ip. SSH password login is off on our images; a root password you set on the Rebuild tab works on the Console tab.
What port does SSH use on a Domain India VPS?
A new VPS uses the standard SSH port, 22. If you change it in the SSH configuration, connect with ssh -p followed by your new port number, and allow that port in your firewall first.
Can I connect to my VPS from Windows without PuTTY?
Yes. Windows 10 and 11 include the OpenSSH client. Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run ssh root@your-vps-ip.
Should I keep logging in as root?
No. After your first login, create your own user with sudo rights, add an SSH key for it, and turn off root login and password login in the SSH configuration.
I disabled password login and now I can't connect. What can I do?
If another session is still open, use it to fix the configuration. Otherwise, open the Console tab on your VPS page, log in with a root password you set on the Rebuild tab, and fix the SSH configuration.
Is the SSH guide the same for shared hosting?
No. On Domain India shared hosting, SSH is a jailed shell that support enables on request, and it accepts key login only. Follow the jailed SSH guide for cPanel, DirectAdmin or Webuzo.
Ready to set up your server? Compare plans on VPS hosting, follow the VPS setup and activation guide, or open a support ticket if your VPS email hasn't arrived.
KVM virtualization, full root SSH access and NVMe storage, with your choice of Linux and an optional control panel.
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