> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.opus-host.de/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Opus Host Quickstart: SSH Into Your VPS in 5 Minutes

> Go from a new Opus Host account to a live VPS with SSH access in under five minutes. Claim your server, grab your credentials, and run your first commands.

This page gets you from zero to a working VPS with SSH access as fast as possible. By the end you'll have a server provisioned and be logged in as root, ready to install whatever you need.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

* A Opus Host account — [Register here](/account/register) if you don't have one yet
* An SSH client: Terminal on Mac or Linux, or Windows Terminal / [PuTTY](https://putty.org) on Windows

<Steps>
  <Step title="Register and claim your VPS">
    If you haven't already, create a free account and claim your VPS. See the full walkthrough at [Claim Your VPS](/claim-your-vps).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find your credentials">
    In the Opus Host dashboard, click on your VPS name. You'll see your:

    * **IP address** — the public address of your server
    * **Username** — usually `root`
    * **Password** — auto-generated at provisioning time

    <Warning>
      Save these credentials somewhere safe. You'll need the IP and password to SSH in.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect via SSH">
    Open a terminal on your computer and run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
    ```

    Type `yes` when asked to accept the server fingerprint, then enter your password when prompted.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update your server">
    The first thing to do on any fresh Linux server is install available updates. The command depends on which operating system you chose during provisioning:

    **Ubuntu or Debian:**

    ```bash theme={null}
    apt update && apt upgrade -y
    ```

    **CentOS:**

    ```bash theme={null}
    yum update -y
    ```

    This usually takes 1–2 minutes. Your server is now patched and ready to use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You're in!">
    You now have full root access to your VPS. Install packages, configure services, and build whatever you like.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Change your root password immediately after first login using the `passwd` command. Choose something strong and unique.
</Tip>

## What to do next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Install a Web Server" icon="globe" href="/guides/install-web-server">
    Host a website or web app with Nginx
  </Card>

  <Card title="Run a Discord Bot" icon="robot" href="/guides/run-a-bot">
    Deploy and keep a bot online 24/7
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set Up a Game Server" icon="gamepad" href="/guides/setup-game-server">
    Run Minecraft and other game servers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Learn the Control Panel" icon="gauge" href="/panel/overview">
    Manage your VPS from the browser dashboard
  </Card>
</CardGroup>