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SSH (Secure Shell) lets you connect to your VPS from your computer’s terminal and run commands remotely. It’s the most common way to manage a Linux server — giving you full control over your VPS through a fast, encrypted connection. All Opus Host VPS instances have SSH enabled by default on port 22.

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Find your SSH credentials

Before connecting, you’ll need three pieces of information from your Opus Host dashboard:
  • IP address — shown on the main VPS overview page.
  • Username — root by default on all fresh installs.
  • Password — displayed on the dashboard after provisioning or reinstall. If you’ve lost it, you can reset it from the Settings page.
Navigate to your VPS in the Opus Host control panel and keep this tab open while you follow the steps below.

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Connecting from Mac / Linux

Mac and Linux both include a built-in SSH client, so no extra software is needed.
1

Open Terminal

Open the Terminal application. On Mac, you can find it in Applications → Utilities → Terminal or search for it with Spotlight (⌘ Space).
2

Run the SSH command

Type the following command, replacing YOUR_SERVER_IP with your actual VPS IP address, then press Enter:
3

Accept the host fingerprint

The first time you connect, you’ll see a message like:
Type yes and press Enter. This stores the server’s fingerprint so you won’t be prompted again on future connections.
4

Enter your password

When prompted, type your root password (from your Opus Host dashboard) and press Enter. Note that the cursor won’t move as you type — this is normal behavior for password fields in a terminal.

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Connecting from Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in OpenSSH client, so you can connect directly from Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt — no extra software required.Open Windows Terminal (search for it in the Start menu) and run:
Accept the host fingerprint prompt by typing yes, then enter your password when asked. The steps are identical to the Mac / Linux instructions above.
SSH keys are a more secure alternative to password-based login. Instead of typing a password, your local machine and your VPS exchange cryptographic keys to verify your identity. Once set up, connecting is faster and significantly more secure.
1

Generate a key pair on your local machine

Run the following command in your local terminal, replacing the email with your own:
You’ll be asked where to save the key (press Enter to accept the default location) and optionally set a passphrase for extra protection. This creates two files: a private key (~/.ssh/id_ed25519) that stays on your machine, and a public key (~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub) that goes to your server.
2

Copy your public key to your VPS

Use ssh-copy-id to install your public key on the server automatically:
You’ll be asked for your root password one last time. After this, your public key will be added to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on your VPS.
3

Test key-based login

Verify that key authentication is working by connecting again:
If everything is set up correctly, you’ll be logged in without being prompted for a password.
4

Disable password authentication (optional but recommended)

Once you’ve confirmed your SSH key works, you can disable password-based login to prevent brute-force attacks.Open the SSH daemon configuration file on your VPS:
Find the line PasswordAuthentication yes and change it to:
Save the file, then restart the SSH service for the change to take effect:
Using SSH keys is much more secure than passwords — they’re immune to brute-force guessing attacks. Once set up, you won’t need to type a password to connect, making your workflow faster too.
If you disable password authentication, make absolutely sure your SSH key login is working first before closing your current session. If your key isn’t set up correctly and you disable passwords, you will lock yourself out. Use the in-browser console in the Opus Host control panel as an emergency fallback to regain access.