Connect to the Server

You can find the credentials for root access to the server (IP address and password) on the server's Dashboard. You can also copy the SSH connection command directly from there.

Connecting via SSH

You can work with the server via SSH using the web console in the control panel, but it may not always be convenient. It’s better to connect to the server via SSH using specialized software, depending on your computer’s operating system. The software may either be built-in or need to be installed separately.

Linux, macOS, Windows 10

For Linux or macOS users, you can use the built-in terminal utility. On Windows, starting with version 10 (build 1809), there is a built-in SSH client, and you can use Windows PowerShell to connect via SSH.

To connect to the server:

1. Open a terminal or PowerShell and enter the following command, replacing it with your server's IP address:

ssh root@server_IP_address

For example:

ssh [email protected]

2. On your first connection, you’ll see a message asking for confirmation. Type yes and press Enter.
3. Next, you’ll be prompted for a password. Enter the password carefully, as the characters will not be displayed on the screen (you can copy the password from the Dashboard and paste it).
4. Press Enter.

If all the details are correct, the connection will be established.

Windows without OpenSSH

When using older versions of Windows, you’ll need an additional SSH client, such as PuTTY, to connect via SSH. You can download it from the official website and install on your machine.

To connect using PuTTY:

1. Launch PuTTY.
2. Enter the connection details:

• • Host Name — the server’s IP address (from the Dashboard)
  • Port — 22

You can save the session settings by entering a convenient name (e.g., vds1) in the Saved Sessions field and clicking Save.

3. Click Open.
4. Upon the first connection, an additional window will appear to confirm the connection. Click Yes.
5. A console window will open, where you need to enter your login and password:

• • login as — enter root.
  • password — enter the password (the characters will not be shown on the screen).

6. Press Enter.

If the credentials are correct, the connection will be established. Now you can enter commands directly in the console window.

Connecting via SFTP

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure protocol for working with files on a remote server. It allows you to transfer files, create directories, manage permissions, etc. Working with SFTP is similar to working with FTP, but the connection is established over the secure SSH protocol.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an older method for transferring files and is considered generally unsafe. It lacks encryption and has several security flaws that make it less suitable for usage, especially when dealing with sensitive data. We recommend using SFTP instead of FTP.

By default, Hostman servers allow SFTP connections. If you wish to use FTP, you need to set up FTP on your server manually.

For establishing a connection, you need an SFTP client, such as FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck etc.

To connect, use the following credentials:

• Host: Your server IP address (you can find this on the server's Dashboard)
• Username: root or another user created on the server
• Password: The password for that user
• Port: 22

If RSA key authentication is used, you will also need to provide the passphrase (if you set it when creating the RSA key) and upload the contents of the public key.

We do not recommend connecting via SFTP as the root user. Not only does this pose security risks, but it can also be inconvenient.

 

When you connect as root, you’ll start in the root home directory (/root). This means you’ll have to navigate through the file system to reach your project folders.

 

Besides, any files you upload as root will be assigned the user and group root:root, which may prevent the web server from accessing them. This could lead to access errors for those new files.

Using FileZilla for SFTP Connections

You can download FileZilla client from the official website.

Connecting to the Server

1. Launch the program and enter the necessary connection settings:

• • Host: The IP address of your server.
  • Username: Either "root" or a user account created on the server.
  • Password: The password for the user.
  • Port: 22 (21 for FTP)

2. Click the Quickconnect button. If all the information is correct, the connection will be established.

3. The right side of the window will display the user account on the server, while the left side shows navigation through your local computer’s folders.

Note: FTP connections with encryption enabled won’t work by default. You need to configure FileZilla to either use "Use explicit FTP over TLS if available" (this is the default option) or "Use plain FTP" in the File → Site Manager settings.

Uploading Files to the Server

• To upload files to the server, navigate to the desired directory on the server (right side of the window), then select the files or folders on your computer (left side of the window).
• Right-click on the selected items and choose "Upload to server" from the context menu.
• Alternatively, you can drag and drop files from the left to the right side.
• The file upload progress will be shown at the bottom of the window.

Downloading Files from the Server

• On the left side of the window, choose the directory where you want to save the files (e.g., "Downloads").
• On the right side, locate the files/folders you want to download. Right-click them and select "Download".
• The files will be downloaded to the directory you selected.
• You can also use drag-and-drop to download files from the server to your local computer.

Saving the Connection Settings

To avoid re-entering server details every time you connect, you can save the connection in the settings.

• If the connection is already established:

  • Go to File → Copy current connection to Site Manager.
  • In the Site Manager window that opens, give a name to this connection.
  • For FTP connections, make sure "Use explicit FTP over TLS if available" is selected under Encryption.
  • Since the other settings are already filled in, click OK to save the connection.

• If no connection is currently active:

  • Go to File → Site Manager.
  • In the Site Manager window, click New Site and give the connection a name.
  • Enter the necessary settings: Host (server IP), Port (21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP), Username, and Password (your server credentials).
  • For FTP connections, ensure that "Use explicit FTP over TLS if available" is selected under Encryption, and set "Passive mode" under the Transfer Settings tab.
  • Click OK to save the connection, or Connect to save and immediately connect to the server.

In the future, you can connect to the saved server with just one click by selecting the saved connection from the list of sites in the Site Manager.