Getting Started (Plans, OS Selection)

VPS Account Setup and Activation: A Step-by-Step Guide

By the Domain India teamPublished 8 min read
Knowledge base article
Contents (8 sections)

Ordering a VPS from Domain India takes a few minutes: pick a plan, choose an operating system and an optional control panel, and pay. After that the server is yours to set up. This guide covers the order, what happens after payment, and the first things to do once you can log in.

Key takeaways

Choose a plan on the VPS page, select a Linux operating system and, if you want one, a control panel (none, CyberPanel, Webuzo or DirectAdmin), then pay the invoice. The server's IP address and root login details are emailed to you once it is set up. A Domain India VPS is self-managed: log in over SSH, update the system, add an SSH key and a firewall, then install your software.

1. Is a VPS the right choice?

A VPS gives you a whole virtual server with root access. That means freedom to install anything, and also the job of keeping it updated and secure. Domain India VPS plans are self-managed by default, and cPanel is not offered on a VPS.

You want toBest fit
Run WordPress or PHP sites and business email, with the server managed for youShared hosting (cPanel, DirectAdmin or Webuzo)
Deploy a Node.js app or a Dockerfile without running a serverApp Platform
Run Docker, databases such as MongoDB, background services or custom software as rootVPS

If you're unsure, read VPS vs shared hosting first.

2. Before you order

  • A Domain India account. Sign up or sign in at the client area. You'll use the same account for invoices, renewals and support.
  • A plan size. Start with the smallest plan that fits your workload; the plan cards below show the current CPU, memory and storage for each.
  • An SSH client. macOS, Linux and Windows 10 or 11 include the ssh command. On Windows you can also use PuTTY.
  • An SSH key (recommended). Create one now with ssh-keygen -t ed25519, so you can switch to key login right after your first sign-in.

3. Place the order

  1. Open the VPS page.
    Go to VPS hosting and choose a plan.
  2. Choose the billing period
    from the options shown at checkout.
  3. Choose the operating system.
    Pick a current long-term-support Linux release, such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, or AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux if you prefer the Red Hat family.
  4. Choose a control panel, or none.
    The live VPS page offers no panel (free), CyberPanel (free), Webuzo (₹210 a month) or DirectAdmin (₹600 a month); panel licences are added to the VPS's monthly cost.
  5. Review and pay.
    Check the plan, the OS and any add-ons, then pay the invoice.
Prices and GST

VPS plan prices are Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, and control panel prices are as shown on the live VPS page on 23 September 2026. All prices exclude 18% GST, which your invoice shows separately.

4. After payment: setup and your login details

Once payment clears, your VPS is created with the operating system and panel you chose. When it is ready, you receive an email with the server's IP address and root login details.

Some orders are checked by hand before the server is created, so a VPS can take longer than a shared hosting account. A setup usually waits because the payment is still clearing, or because the order was flagged for a manual check. You can see the order and its invoice in the client area under Services and Invoices. If you haven't received your details, open a support ticket or use the 24/7 live chat.

5. Log in for the first time

Connect as root with the IP address from your email:

bash
ssh [email protected]

Replace the example address with your VPS's IP. The first time you connect, ssh asks you to confirm the server's fingerprint; type yes. Then change the root password straight away if you were given one:

bash
passwd

If the connection times out, check that you are using the right IP address and port 22, and that no firewall on your own network blocks outgoing SSH. More detail: how to access your VPS using SSH.

6. Secure the server in the first hour

A new server with a public IP address gets SSH login attempts within minutes. These steps close the easy ways in.

  1. Update everything.
    On Ubuntu or Debian run apt update && apt full-upgrade -y; on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux run dnf upgrade -y. Reboot if the kernel was updated.
  2. Create your own user with sudo.
    On Ubuntu, adduser deploy then usermod -aG sudo deploy; on AlmaLinux or Rocky, adduser deploy, passwd deploy and usermod -aG wheel deploy.
  3. Add your SSH key.
    From your computer, run ssh-copy-id deploy@your-server-ip and check that you can log in with the key.
  4. Turn off password and root login.
    In /etc/ssh/sshd_config, set PasswordAuthentication no and PermitRootLogin no, then restart SSH. Keep your current session open until a new login works.
  5. Turn on a firewall.
    Allow only what you use: SSH (22) and, for a website, HTTP (80) and HTTPS (443). Use ufw on Ubuntu or firewalld on AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux.
  6. Turn on automatic security updates.
    unattended-upgrades on Ubuntu or Debian, dnf-automatic on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.
Test before you lock the door

Before you restart SSH with password login off, open a second terminal and confirm that your key login works. If you lock yourself out, open a support ticket with your VPS details.

Full checklists: set up SSH key authentication and the SSH security hardening checklist for a VPS.

7. Install what you need

With a control panel, open it in your browser and follow its setup; it will install the web server, databases and email for you. Without a panel, install your own stack. For example, running MERN on a clean VPS walks through Node.js, Nginx, PM2 and MongoDB on Ubuntu 24.04.

Point your domain at the VPS by creating an A record with the VPS's IP address wherever your domain's DNS is managed. See how to change your domain's DNS settings.

8. Domain India VPS plans

Every plan uses KVM virtualization with full root access and NVMe storage. The two smallest plans:

VPS Starter
₹552.65/mo + GST
  • 1 vCPU
  • 2 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 64 GB NVMe SSD Storage
  • 2 TB Monthly Bandwidth
See plan details
VPS Basic
₹1,105.30/mo + GST
  • 2 vCPU
  • 4 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 128 GB NVMe SSD Storage
  • 3 TB Monthly Bandwidth
See plan details

On 19 September 2026, VPS plans started at ₹552 a month for VPS Starter. Larger plans are listed on the VPS page. Under Domain India's refund policy, a VPS is non-refundable once it has been provisioned, so choose the plan size carefully; you can ask support about moving to a larger plan later.

How do I order a VPS from Domain India?

Open the VPS page, choose a plan, pick a billing period, a Linux operating system and an optional control panel, then pay the invoice. The server is created after payment, and its IP address and root login details are emailed to you.

Is a Domain India VPS managed?

No. VPS plans are self-managed by default. You get full root access and are responsible for updates, security and the software you install. For fully managed onboarding, contact sales.

Can I get cPanel on a Domain India VPS?

No. cPanel is not offered on VPS plans. You can choose no panel, CyberPanel (free), Webuzo or DirectAdmin at checkout. For cPanel, use Domain India's shared cPanel hosting.

How long does it take to set up a VPS?

The server is created after payment. Some orders are checked by hand first, so a VPS can take longer than a shared hosting account. If your login details haven't arrived, open a support ticket or use the live chat.

What should I do first after logging in to my VPS?

Update the system, create a user with sudo rights, add your SSH key, turn off password and root login over SSH, enable a firewall that allows only the ports you use, and turn on automatic security updates.

Can I get a refund on a VPS?

Under Domain India's refund policy, VPS plans are non-refundable once provisioned. The 30-day full refund applies to new shared and reseller hosting purchases only.

Ready to launch your server? Compare the plans on VPS hosting, and if you're not sure a VPS is right for you, read VPS vs shared hosting or open a support ticket.

Launch your own VPS

KVM virtualization, full root access and NVMe storage, with your choice of Linux and an optional control panel.

See VPS plans

Ready when you are

Get VPS from ₹552.65/mo + GST

See plans

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VPS Setup and Activation: Step-by-Step | Domain India