Getting Started with a VPS

Modified on Sun, 15 Dec, 2024 at 11:51 PM

Objective

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a virtualized dedicated server. A VPS is not a managed service so you have the full freedom and flexibility to maintain and use it however you choose.


This guide provides some basic information for getting started with a VPS.


SAS CLOUD is providing you with services for which you are responsible, with regard to their configuration and management. You are therefore responsible for ensuring they function correctly.


Requirements

  1. a Virtual Private Server in your SAS CLOUD account
  2. access to the SAS CLOUD Control Panel
  3. login credentials received via email after the installation


First steps (current VPS range)

Connecting to your VPS


At the first installation or when reinstalling from the Control Panel, a user with elevated permissions will be created and you will be sent an email containing the login credentials. The username will be chosen according to the operating system, for example “ubuntu” or “debian”.


You can now connect to your VPS via SSH with username and password. (SSH is a secure communication protocol. Find out more in our Getting Started with SSH article). You can access your server through a command line terminal (Linux or MAC) or through third-party software on Windows (we can recommend PuTTy).


Using PuTTy, for example, simply open the application and enter your server's hostname or IPv4 address to establish a connection. You will be prompted for your username and password and then you can proceed with the command line interface (CLI).



Once you have opened the terminal, type the following command to log into your VPS with the information provided in the email (username and IPv4 address):

ssh username@IPv4_of_your_VPS
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Since you are now logged in with elevated privileges (a sudo user), you can enter commands to perform administrative tasks. It is recommendable to first change your password:

~$ sudo passwd New password: Retype new password: passwd: password updated successfully
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Note that passwords are not displayed. Next, switch to the “root” user and set your admin password:

~$ sudo su - ~# passwd New password: Retype new password: passwd: password updated successfully
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Enabling root logins


Connecting with the “root” user is disabled by default as a security measure. If you need to permit these connections, you can follow the steps below.


Warning: Only perform the following steps if you need the ability to SSH into your VPS with the root user. Allowing this connection reduces the security of your VPS.


Use a text editor such as vim or nano to edit this configuration file:

$ sudo vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
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Add the following line.

PermitRootLogin yes
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Look for this line and make sure it is commented out:

#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
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Save the file and exit the editor. Then restart the SSH daemon.

$ systemctl restart sshd
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This should be sufficient to apply the changes. Alternatively, reboot the VPS (~$ reboot).


Restarting your VPS (current VPS range)


A reboot might become necessary in order to apply updated configurations or to fix an issue. Whenever feasible, perform a “soft reboot” via the command line:

reboot
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