Getting started with VPS Hosting

This guide walks you through the process of setting up your Virtual Private Server (VPS) on ServerPrism, from ordering to initial access and basic configuration.

Before you start

You should have a general understanding of Linux command-line operations if you plan to install custom software or manage services manually. Your ServerPrism account should be active.

Ordering on ServerPrism

1. Choose your plan: For general VPS use, we recommend a minimum of 6 GB RAM. For more resource-intensive applications or multiple services, consider plans up to 32 GB RAM. Select the plan that best fits your needs.
2. Select a region: Choose the data center location closest to you or your target audience for optimal performance.
3. Deploy: During the order process, select the VPS - Egg runtime. Your server will begin provisioning immediately.

First boot

After ordering, your VPS will provision and start automatically. You can monitor its status from the ServerPrism panel at https://serverprism.com/dashboard. The server is ready when its status changes from Installing to Running.

Connecting to your VPS

Once your VPS is running, you can connect to it using SSH (Secure Shell) or the in-panel web console.

1. Find your IP address: Your server's IP address is displayed on the main page of your server in the ServerPrism panel.
2. SSH Access: By default, the VPS - Egg runtime provides root access via SSH. You will find the SSH connection details, including username (root) and password, in the Startup tab of your server panel, under the SSH_PASSWORD variable. Use an SSH client (like PuTTY on Windows, or ssh command on Linux/macOS) to connect:

   ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
   

   When prompted, enter the SSH password from your Startup tab.
3. Web Console: For quick access without an external client, use the Console tab in the ServerPrism panel. This provides a direct command-line interface to your VPS.

Configuration basics

Upon first login via SSH, you should perform some basic security and configuration steps.

1. Change root password: It is highly recommended to change the default SSH password provided by ServerPrism. Once logged in via SSH:

   passwd root
   

   Follow the prompts to set a new strong password.
2. Update your system: Keep your operating system packages up to date.

   apt update && apt upgrade -y
   

   (This assumes a Debian/Ubuntu-based system, which is common for the VPS egg. Adjust commands for other distributions if you've installed a custom OS).
3. Install essential tools: You might want to install tools like htop, git, curl, or wget.

   apt install htop git curl wget -y
   

4. Firewall setup: For security, configure a firewall. ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) is a common choice.

   apt install ufw -y
   ufw allow ssh
   # Example: Allow HTTP/HTTPS if you plan to run a web server
   ufw allow http
   ufw allow https
   ufw enable
   

   Confirm with y when enabling.

Common issues

• Cannot connect via SSH: Ensure your server is Running in the ServerPrism panel. Double-check the IP address, username (root), and password from the Startup tab. The firewall might be blocking SSH; if you've enabled ufw, ensure ufw allow ssh was run before enabling it.
• Services not starting: If you install a service (e.g., Nginx, Docker) and it doesn't start, check its logs for errors. Common commands include systemctl status <service_name> and journalctl -xeu <service_name>.
• Slow performance: Monitor CPU, RAM, and disk I/O using tools like htop or atop. If your resources are consistently maxed out, consider upgrading your plan from your ServerPrism customer dashboard.

Next steps

Your VPS is a blank canvas. You can install a wide range of software and services:

• Web Servers: Install Nginx, Apache, or Caddy to host websites.
• Databases: Set up MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB.
• Docker: Install Docker to run containerized applications easily.
• Game Servers: While ServerPrism offers dedicated game server runtimes, you can also manually install game servers on your VPS for full control.
• Custom Applications: Deploy any custom Linux-compatible application or service.

If you need to change your base operating system or runtime, you can re-install the VPS - Egg from the Startup tab in your panel, which will wipe your server and re-provision it. For any issues or questions, open a support ticket at https://serverprism.com/tickets, providing your server ID and relevant logs.