Connect to a dedicated server

Last update: May 30 2026

You can connect to a dedicated server to remotely manage it:

• via SSH – for servers with a Linux operating system;
• via RDP – for servers with a Windows operating system;
• via VNC – for servers with macOS;
• via the KVM console – for servers running any operating system and for servers in the Chipcore Line with the additional service IP-KVM access for 3 hours.

If you ordered a server without an operating system, you can install the OS manually.

View connection credentials

The connection settings for a dedicated server can be viewed in the control panel:

• username (login) and password — from the top menu, click Products and select Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password fields;
• public IP address of the server — from the top menu, click Products and select Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP field.

If you have forgotten the server password, you can reset and recover it.

Connect via SSH

The SSH protocol is used to connect to servers with a Linux OS.

To connect to the server, you can enter a username and password or use an SSH key pair. We recommend using SSH keys instead of a login and password — you can only connect using keys from the computer where the private key is stored.

You can store public SSH keys in the control panel in the SSH key repository.

From Linux/macOS

1. Optional: create an SSH key pair and place the public SSH key on the server.

2. Open the CLI.

3. Connect to the server:

   ssh <username>@<ip_address>

   Specify:

   • <username> — username (login). You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login;
   • <ip_address> — public IP address of the server. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP.

4. Enter the password. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Password.

   If a Linux-based OS from a standard image is installed on the server, the number of authorization attempts is limited. After 10 failed password attempts from one IP address, this IP address will be blocked for a day. If you have forgotten the server password, you can reset and recover it.

   If you use SSH keys, you do not need to enter a password.

From Windows

In Windows 10, you can connect to a dedicated server similarly to Linux and macOS — via the command line (cmd.exe).

For earlier versions of Windows, use PuTTY.

1. Optional: create an SSH key pair and place the public key on the server.

2. Install PuTTY and launch it.

3. Go to the Session tab.

4. In the Host Name field, enter the server's public IP address.

5. In the Port field, specify the port for the SSH connection (default is 22).

6. In the Connection type field, select the SSH connection type.

7. If you are using an SSH key pair, open the SSH — Auth tab, click Browse, and upload the private key file.

8. Click Open.

9. Confirm the connection and enter the login and password to access the server. You can view them in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password.

   If a Linux-based OS from a standard image is installed on the server, the number of authorization attempts is limited. After 10 failed password attempts from one IP address, this IP address will be blocked for a day. If you have forgotten the server password, you can reset and recover it.

   If you use an SSH key pair, you do not need to enter a password.

Connect via RDP

The RDP protocol is used to connect to dedicated Windows servers.

From Windows

1. Open the Start menu → Remote Desktop Connection.

2. In the Computer field, enter the server's public IP address. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP.

3. Click Connect.

4. Enter the username. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login.

5. Enter the password. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers * → server page → Operating System tab → Password.

6. Click OK.

From Linux

1. Install an RDP client (rdesktop, Remmina, etc.). Learn more in the Selectel blog article RDP remote access clients for Linux.

2. Open the CLI.

3. Connect to the server (example for rdesktop):

   rdesktop <ip_address> -u <username> -p <password>

   Specify:

   • <ip_address> — public IP address of the server. You can view it in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP;
   • <username> — username (login). You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login;
   • <password> — password. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Password.

From macOS

1. Install Microsoft Remote Desktop and launch it.

2. To create a connection, click +.

3. In the PC name field, enter the server's public IP address. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP.

4. In the Username field, enter the username. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login.

5. In the Password field, enter the password. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Password.

6. Click Save.

7. Double-click the created connection in the list.

Connect via VNC

To connect, you can use a VNC client on your local computer. The standard port for connection is 5900.

The VNC protocol is used for remote access to dedicated servers with Windows, Linux, and macOS:

• to connect to macOS servers from Windows or Linux, use RealVNC Viewer;
• to connect to Windows and Linux servers from different OSs, use a suitable client:

	Installed on Windows	Installed on Linux	Installed on macOS
RealVNC Viewer	✓	✓	✗
TigerVNC	✓	✓	✗
UltraVNC	✓	✗	✗
Remote Ripple	✓	✓	✗
Remmina	✗	✓	✗
Finder	✗	✗	✓

From macOS

1. Launch Finder.

2. Open the Go menu → Connect to Server.

3. In the Server Address field, enter:

   vnc://<ip_address>

   Specify <ip_address> — public IP address of the server. You can view it in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP.

4. Click Connect.

5. Enter the username and password. You can view them in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password.

6. Click Sign In.

From Windows/Linux

The connection process depends on the VNC client.

Example connection for the RealVNC Viewer VNC client:

1. Install RealVNC Viewer.

2. Launch RealVNC Viewer.

3. In the RVNC connect field, enter:

   <ip_address>:<port>

   Specify:

   • <ip_address> — public IP address of the server. You can view it in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → IP;
   • <port> — port for VNC connection (default is 5900).

4. In the Username field, enter the username. You can view it in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login field.

5. In the Password field, enter the password. You can view it in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Password field.

6. Click OK.

Connect via KVM console

You can connect via the KVM console in the control panel to a dedicated server with any operating system.

To connect via the KVM console to servers in the Chipcore Line, order the additional service IP-KVM access for 3 hours. Read more about using the KVM console in the instruction Manage a server via the KVM console.

1. In the control panel, on the top menu, click Products and select Dedicated Servers.
2. In the server card, click . The KVM console will open in a new browser tab. If necessary, expand the KVM console window.
3. If you have an X8DTU motherboard, synchronize the cursor.
4. If the KVM console requests permission to launch, confirm the permission — click Run.
5. If the KVM console requests authorization, sequentially set the cursor to the Username and Password fields, and click on username and password in the bottom right corner of the window. The fields will be filled in automatically. If you do not see the buttons in the bottom right corner, reconnect to the console.
6. If the KVM console control panel appears, select the Remote control section in the left menu. On the remote access page, click Launch H5Viewer.
7. Log in to the server. You can view the login (username) and password (password) in the control panel: on the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System → Login and Password fields. The password is available to view for 24 hours from the moment the OS installation or configuration change begins. If you are connecting to a server with Windows OS, ensure that the English keyboard layout is enabled when entering the password on the server.