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Common VPS actions

Power, the HTML console, and reinstall are on the VPS's Management tab, which appears only while the VPS is Active: power, HTML console, and reinstall. The firewall and add-ons have their own tabs.

Reboot, power off, or power on​

  1. On the Power card, check the state. Select refresh if it looks out of date.
  2. Select Reboot or Power off (while Running), or Power on (while Powered off).
  3. Confirm in the dialog. For Reboot or Power off, anything running stops immediately. A powered-off VPS is still billed.

Result: Dash confirms the request and checks the power state until it changes, usually within a minute.

Open the HTML console​

Use it when you can't reach the VPS over the network.

  1. On the Console card, select Open HTML console.
  2. Sign in to the operating system in the console window.

It needs a screen wider than a phone's. If it doesn't open, see troubleshooting.

On Linux Premium, Windows Basic, Windows Premium, and Forex VPS, the console window also has:

  • A session end time: the session ends 30 minutes after it opens, and closing the window ends it sooner. Open it again with the same button.
  • Key buttons: Ctrl+Alt+Del, Esc, and Tab send those keys to the server. Ctrl, Alt, and Win stay pressed until you click them again.
  • Paste text: sends the text you enter to the server as keystrokes, such as a password at a sign-in prompt.
  • View buttons: Fit to window or Actual size, and Full screen.
  • Reconnect: shown if the console disconnects.

Click the console screen to type into it.

Request an operating system reinstall​

A reinstall erases every file and snapshot on the VPS. Back up first.

  1. On Reinstall operating system, choose an image.
  2. Check I understand this erases all data and snapshots on this server once carried out.
  3. Select Request reinstall and confirm.

Result: Dash shows a ticket code. Note the code, because the link disappears when you leave the page. Nothing changes on the server until our team carries out the request, which you follow in Support. Each request opens a new ticket, so submit it once.

Set up the firewall​

The Firewall tab is on Linux Premium, Windows Basic, Windows Premium, and Forex VPS. Traffic is checked against the rules from the top, and the first rule that matches decides. Traffic that doesn't match any rule follows the default policy for its direction. The firewall is off until you turn it on, and you can prepare rules while it's off.

The rules are entirely yours, and nothing keeps a port open for you. The inbound default starts as Block, so once the firewall is on, every inbound connection that no rule allows is dropped. Before you turn it on, add an inbound Allow rule for the way you connect, such as the SSH or RDP preset. If you lock yourself out, the HTML console still works.

Add a rule​

  1. On the Firewall tab, under Rules, select Add rule.
  2. Choose the Direction: Inbound or Outbound.
  3. Choose the Action: Allow, Block (drops the traffic silently), or Reject (refuses it and tells the sender).
  4. Under Traffic, set Match by to Preset and choose one, such as SSH or HTTPS. Or set it to Protocol, choose the protocol, and enter the ports: one port, a list such as 80,443, or a range such as 1000-2000. A rule takes up to 15 port entries: each single port counts as one, and each range counts as two. Split a longer list into more rules.
  5. Enter the Source and the Destination. Either list addresses or networks separated by commas, or enter one range, one alias by its name, or one IP set as + and its name, such as +office. Leave a field empty for any address.
  6. Select Save rule.

Use the arrows on a rule to move it up or down, because the order decides which rule matches first. A paused rule stays in the list but doesn't apply.

Set the default policies​

Select Change next to Inbound default or Outbound default, choose Allow, Block, or Reject for each direction, and select Save policies.

Use aliases and IP sets​

  • An alias is a name for one address or network. Select Add alias, then use the name as a rule's source or destination.
  • An IP set is a named group of addresses and networks. Select Add IP set, then use it in a rule as +name. An entry marked Exclude takes its addresses out of the set.

An alias or IP set that a rule still uses can't be removed or renamed. Change the rule first.

Turn the firewall on​

Switch Firewall on and select Turn on in the dialog, which names the inbound default. Switch it off to stop applying the rules.

Result: a change applies a few seconds after it's saved. If the firewall doesn't accept a change, nothing changes, and Dash points at the field to correct.

Buy, change, or remove an add-on​

The Add-ons tab lists the add-ons on this VPS under On this server, and the ones you can add under Add to this server. An add-on is billed monthly, once, or is included with the plan, and its price shows which.

Buy an add-on​

  1. Under Add to this server, select Add on the add-on.
  2. Choose an option. The panel shows what you pay Today and Then.
  3. Select Continue to payment and pay the invoice that opens. If nothing is due, select Add.

Result: after payment, the add-on's status reads Being prepared while our team sets it up, and the steps under it show Paid, Preparing, and Active. Once it's set up, the status reads Active.

Change an add-on​

Change appears on a monthly add-on whose plan lets you change it.

  1. Select Change on the add-on.
  2. Choose the new option.
  3. Select Continue to payment or Save change.

A more expensive option takes effect once you pay the difference for the rest of the current period. A cheaper option takes effect at renewal. Until then, the add-on shows Changes to the new option and the date, and Keep cancels the change.

Remove an add-on​

  1. Select Remove on the add-on.
  2. Confirm.

Result: the status changes to Removal requested. A monthly add-on comes off your next invoice and keeps working until the renewal date. An add-on included with the plan can't be removed.

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