Connect to a dedicated server

Last update: September 15 2026Open in Markdown

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

• via the SSH protocol – for servers with the Linux operating system;
• RDP protocol – for servers with the Windows operating system;
• VNC protocol – for servers with macOS;
• via the KVM console – for servers with any operating system, except for Chipcore Line servers;
• IP-KVM — for Chipcore Line servers when ordering the additional service IP-KVM connection for 3 hours.

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

View connection parameters

You can view the parameters for connecting to a dedicated server in the control panel:

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

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

Connect via SSH

The SSH protocol is used to connect to servers running Linux.

To connect to the server, you can enter a login 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: in 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: in 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: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Password.

   If the server is running an OS from a Linux-based standard image, the number of authentication attempts is limited. After 10 failed password attempts from a single IP address, this IP address will be blocked for 24 hours. If you forgot the server password, you can reset and recover it.

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

From Windows

In Windows 10, you can connect to a dedicated server the same way as in Linux and macOS – via the command line (cmd.exe).

In 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 tab Session.

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

5. In the Port field, specify the port for 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 username and password to log in to the server. You can view them in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password.

   If the server is running an OS from a Linux-based standard image, the number of authentication attempts is limited. After 10 failed password attempts from a single IP address, this IP address will be blocked for 24 hours. If you forgot the server password, you can reset and recover it.

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

Connect via RDP

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

From Windows

1. Open the Start menu → Remote Desktop Connection.

2. In the Computer field, enter the 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.

3. Click Connect.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Click OK.

From Linux

1. Install an RDP client (rdesktop, Remmina, etc.). For more details, see the Selectel blog post Remote desktop RDP 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: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login;
   • <password> — password. You can view it in the control panel: in 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 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.

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.

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.

6. Click Save.

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

Connect via VNC

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

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

• to connect to servers with macOS from Windows or Linux, use RealVNC Viewer;
• to connect to servers with Windows and Linux OS from various operating systems, 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: in 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: in 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 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.

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.

6. Click OK.

Connect via KVM console

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

1. In the control panel, in the top menu, click Products and select Dedicated Servers.

2. On the server card, click . The KVM console will launch in a new browser tab. If needed, expand the KVM console window.

3. If you have an X8DTU motherboard, synchronize the cursor.

4. If the KVM console prompts for permission to run, confirm the permission – click Run.

5. If the KVM console requests authorization, place the cursor in the Username and Password fields in turn and click username and password in the lower-right corner of the window. The values will be populated automatically. If you do not see the buttons in the lower-right corner, reconnect to the console.

6. If the KVM console control panel appears, select the Remote control section from 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 in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password. The password is available for viewing for 24 hours from the start of OS installation or configuration change. If you are connecting to a Windows server, make sure the English keyboard layout is enabled on the server when entering the password.

Connect via IP-KVM

You can connect via IP-KVM only to Chipcore Line servers. To connect to the server via IP-KVM, order the additional service one-time IP-KVM connection.

For more details about using IP-KVM, see the instructions Connect to Chipcore Line server via IP-KVM.