Connect via SSH

What is SSH?

SSH (Secure Shell) lets you control your server from a terminal. You type commands on your computer, they run on your VPS. The connection is encrypted.

Two Ways to Log In

Password Login

The default. When you install an OS without selecting an SSH key, you get a root password by email. Use it to log in.

SSH Key Login

If you add your SSH key in the control panel and select it when installing an OS, you log in with your key instead. Password login is disabled in this case. More secure, no password to remember.

What You Need

You'll need:

• IP address: found in the control panel
• Username: usually root
• Password or SSH key: depending on how you installed the OS
• Port: default is 22 unless you've changed it

The SSH Command

Password login:

ssh root@192.0.2.1

SSH key login (if your key isn't at the default path ~/.ssh/id_ed25519):

ssh -i ~/.ssh/my_key root@192.0.2.1

Custom port:

ssh -p 2222 root@192.0.2.1

First Login

The first time you connect, you'll see:

The authenticity of host '192.0.2.1' can't be established.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

Type yes and press Enter. Your computer saves the server's fingerprint so it won't ask again.

If using password login, type your password next. Nothing shows on screen while you type. That's normal.

If using SSH key login, you're in immediately (or after entering your key passphrase, if you set one).

Setting Up SSH Keys

Option 1: Generate a Key on Your Computer

See the platform-specific guides below for how to generate a key on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

After generating, add your public key to the control panel:

1. Go to cloud.qde.com/sshkeys
2. Click Add Key on the right
3. Paste your public key and give it a name
4. When you install or reinstall an OS, select this key

Option 2: Generate a Key in the Control Panel

Don't want to use the command line?

1. Go to cloud.qde.com/sshkeys
2. Click Add Key, then click Generate Key Pair
3. Download the private key. Pick OpenSSH format (for Terminal/PowerShell) or PuTTY format (for PuTTY on Windows)
4. Save the private key file somewhere safe
5. When you install an OS, select this key

After Login

You'll see a prompt like:

root@hostname:~#

You're in. Install software, edit configs, deploy your project: the server is yours.

Next Steps

Platform-specific guides: