Reinstalling the operating system wipes your VPS and gives you a fresh Linux install with new root login details. On a Domain India VPS there is no reinstall button in the client area: you back up what you need, then open a ticket and support carries out the reinstall for you. This page gives the short version; the full guide covers every step.
An OS reinstall erases everything on the VPS disk, so copy your files, databases and settings to storage outside the server first. Then open a ticket from your account with the VPS IP address, the operating system and version you want, your control panel choice, and confirmation that all data may be erased. Support does the reinstall and tells you when it is done.
The complete walkthrough, with backup commands, OS choices for 2026 and post-install hardening, is in Installing/reinstalling an operating system.
1. When a reinstall makes sense
- After a compromise. Once an attacker has had root, a clean OS is the only state you can trust. Restore your data and code, never old system files.
- To change distribution, for example from AlmaLinux to Ubuntu.
- To leave an end-of-life OS such as CentOS 7 or 8, or Ubuntu 20.04.
- When the system is broken beyond a reasonable repair, such as a failed major upgrade.
If one service is misbehaving, fix or restart that service instead. A reinstall costs hours of setup and restore time.
2. Back up first
Websites, databases, mail, users, SSH keys, cron jobs, firewall rules and any archive you saved on the VPS itself are all deleted. Only copies stored somewhere else survive.
Before you ask for the reinstall:
- Archive your site files, for example
tar -czf /root/sites.tar.gz /var/www. - Dump each database with
mysqldump --single-transaction dbname > dbname.sqlorpg_dump dbname > dbname.sql. - Save
/etc, your crontabs (crontab -l > crontab.txt), any.envfiles and certificates you paid for. - Record your installed packages (
apt list --installedordnf list installed). - Copy it all off the server with
rsyncorscp, and open a few files to check they are complete.
3. Request the reinstall
- Open a ticket from your accountat /client/support/new, so support can see which VPS is yours.
- Identify the serverby its IP address or hostname.
- Name the OS and version,for example Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and say whether you want no control panel or one of the panels listed on the VPS page.
- Confirm the data lossin writing: you have a backup and accept that the VPS will be erased.
- Wait for support's reply,which tells you the reinstall is finished and how to log in.
If keeping the same IP address matters to you, for a DNS record or a software licence, ask support to confirm it in the same ticket.
4. After the reinstall
Your computer remembers the old server's fingerprint, so clear it with ssh-keygen -R your-vps-ip and connect again with ssh root@your-vps-ip. Then secure the server before restoring anything: update the system, add your SSH key, create a sudo user, turn off password and root login, and enable a firewall. The first-hour checklist is in VPS account setup and activation, and the firewall steps are in Setting up a firewall on your VPS.
5. Domain India VPS
Domain India VPS plans run on KVM with full root access and NVMe storage. They are self-managed: you install, secure and back up your own software, and support handles platform tasks such as a reinstall on request. cPanel is not offered on a VPS; the panel choices are none, CyberPanel, Webuzo or DirectAdmin.
Can I reinstall my VPS operating system from the client area?
No. The Domain India client area has no VPS reinstall button. Back up your data, then open a support ticket with the VPS IP address, the operating system and version you want, and confirmation that all data may be erased. Support carries out the reinstall.
Will reinstalling the OS delete my data?
Yes. A reinstall erases the entire VPS disk, including websites, databases, email, settings and any backup stored on the server itself. Copy everything you need to storage outside the VPS first.
Which operating system should I choose?
A current long-term-support release such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, the current Debian stable, or AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux if your software expects the Red Hat family. Avoid CentOS and any release whose standard support has ended.
Why does SSH warn that the remote host identification has changed?
The reinstall created new host keys. Remove the old entry with ssh-keygen -R followed by the VPS IP address, then connect again.
Can I get cPanel installed during the reinstall?
No. cPanel is not offered on Domain India VPS plans. You can ask for no panel, CyberPanel, Webuzo or DirectAdmin in the same ticket. For cPanel, use Domain India shared cPanel hosting.
Ready for a clean start? Take your backup, then open a ticket with the details above, or compare VPS plans if you are moving to a bigger server at the same time.
Tell us the VPS IP address, the operating system and version you want, and confirm your backup is safe.
Open a ticket