Connect to a dedicated server

Last update: May 27 2025

Connect to a dedicated server

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

• SSH — for servers with Linux operating system;
• RDP — for servers with Windows operating system;
• via VNC — for macOS servers;
• via KVM console — for servers with any operating system and for servers of the Chipcore Line with additional service IP-KVM connection for 3 hours.

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

View parameters for connection⁠

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

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

If you forget your server password, you can reset and recover it.

Connect via SSH⁠

The SSH protocol is used to connect to Linux servers.

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

You can store public SSH keys in the control panel in the storage for SSH keys.

From Linux/macOS

1. Optional: create an SSH key pair and place a 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 control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → tab Operating System → field Login;
   • <ip_address> — public IP address of the server. You can view it in control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → tab Operating System → field IP.

4. Enter the password. You can view the password in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → Server page → Operating System tab → Password field.

   If the server OS was installed from a Linux image prepared by the Selectel team, the number of authorization attempts is limited.After 10 unsuccessful password attempts from one IP address, that IP address will be blocked for 24 hours.If you forget your 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 in 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 run it.

3. Click the Session tab.

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

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 download the private key file.

8. Click Open.

9. Confirm the connection and enter the login and password to log in to the server. You can view it in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password field.

   If the server OS was installed from a Linux image prepared by the Selectel team, the number of authorization attempts is limited.After 10 unsuccessful password attempts from one IP address, that IP address will be blocked for 24 hours.If you forget your 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 Windows servers.

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 → Server page → Operating System tab → IP field.
3. Click Connect.
4. Enter the user name. You can view it in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → Server page → Operating System tab → Login field.
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 field.
6. Press OK.

From Linux

1. InstallRDP client (rdesktop, Remmina, etc.). Read 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 control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → tab Operating System → field IP;
   • <username> — username (login). You can view it in control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → tab Operating System → field Login;
   • <password> — password. You can look in control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → server page → tab Operating System → field Password.

From macOS.

1. Install Microsoft Remote Desktop and run it.
2. To create a connection, press +.
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 → Server page → Operating System tab → IP field.
4. In the Username field, enter the user name. You can view it in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → 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 → Server page → Operating System tab → Password field.
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 client for VNC.The standard port for connecting is 5900.

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

• Use RealVNC Viewer to connect to macOS servers from Windows or Linux;
• Use a suitable client to connect to Windows and Linux servers from different operating systems:

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

From macOS.

1. Start the Finder.

2. Open the menu Go → Connect to Server.

3. In the Server Address field, enter:

   vnc://<ip_address>

   Specify <ip_address> — 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 → Server page → Operating System tab → IP field.

4. Click Connect.

5. Enter the user name and password. You can view it in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → Server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password field.

6. Click Sign In.

From Windows/Linux

The connection process depends on the VNC client.

Connection example for the RealVNC Viewer VNC client:

1. Install RealVNC Viewer.

2. Start 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 control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server page → tab Operating System → field IP;
   • <port> — port for VNC connection (default is 5900).

4. In the Username field, enter the user name. You can view it in the Control Panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → 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 → Server page → Operating System tab → Password field.

6. Press 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 KVM console to Chipcore Line servers, order the following additional service IP-KVM connection for 3 hours. For more information about working with the KVM console, see the instructions Managing a server via KVM console.

1. In the Control Panel, on the top menu, click Products and select Dedicated Servers.
2. In the Servers section, open the Server List tab.
3. In the server card, click . The KVM console starts in a new browser tab. If necessary, expand the KVM console window.
4. If you have an X8DTU motherboard, synchronize the cursor.
5. If the KVM console asks for permission to start, confirm the permission by clicking Run.
6. If the KVM console requests authorization, place the cursor in the Username and Password field and click username and password in the lower right corner of the window. The values in the fields will be filled in automatically. If you do not see the button in the lower right corner, reconnect to the console.
7. If the KVM console control panel appears in front of you, select Remote control from the left menu. On the remote access page, click Launch H5Viewer.
8. Authorize on the server. You can view username and password in the control panel: in the top menu, click Products → Dedicated Servers → Servers → Server → Server page → Operating System tab → Login and Password field . The password is available for 24 hours from the start of OS installation or configuration change. If you connect to the server with Windows OS, make sure that the English layout is enabled on the server when entering the password.