How to connect to your Linux VPS via SSH (Putty / Terminal)

June 07, 2026 Cloud VPS and Dedicated Server Management

When you purchase a Linux Virtual Private Server (VPS) from CeylonServers, you receive full root access to build and configure your environment. Unlike standard web hosting, a VPS is managed primarily through a command-line interface (CLI) using a secure protocol called SSH (Secure Shell).

Depending on your computer's operating system, follow the accurate steps below to establish your first server connection.

Prerequisites: Your VPS Credentials

Before connecting, make sure you have your VPS welcome email or client area open. You will need:

Server IP Address: (e.g.: 192.168.1.100)
SSH Port: Default is 22 (Unless customized for security).
Username: Default is always root.
Password: The secure root password assigned to your server.

Method 1: Connecting from Windows (Using PuTTY)

Since Windows does not always have an intuitive built-in SSH client out of the box, downloading PuTTY (a free, lightweight SSH client) is the industry standard.

Step 1: Download and Launch PuTTY

Download PuTTY from its official website and install it.
Download PuTTY : Click Here
Launch the PuTTY application on your computer.

Step 2: Enter Server Parameters

In the "Host Name (or IP address)" text field, paste your explicit VPS IP address.

Ensure the Port field is set to 22 (or your custom server port).
Ensure the Connection type radio button is selected on SSH.
Click the "Open" button at the bottom.

Step 3: Accept the Security Alert

If this is your very first time connecting to this server, a popup window titled "PuTTY Security Alert" will appear. This is completely normal! It is just asking you to trust the server's unique encryption fingerprint host key. Click "Accept" or "Yes".

Step 4: Enter Login Credentials

A black terminal window will open with a prompt saying: login as:.
Type root and press Enter.
Next, it will ask for root@your_ip's password:.

Important Security Note: When typing or pasting your password in PuTTY, no characters, bullets, or stars will move or show up on the screen. This is a security feature in Linux to prevent screen-peeping. Simply type your password blindly or Right-Click once to paste it, then hit Enter.

Method 2: Connecting from Mac or Linux (Using Native Terminal)

If you are running macOS or a Linux distribution on your local computer, you do not need any third-party tools. You can connect directly using your built-in command terminal.

Open your native Terminal app.

Type the following standard SSH string and press Enter:

Bash

ssh root@your_server_ip

(Make sure to change your_server_ip to your actual VPS IP address, for example: ssh [email protected])

Note: If your VPS uses a non-standard custom port (e.g., 2222), format your command line like this instead: ssh root@your_server_ip -p 2222

Verify Host Key Authenticity: The terminal will output a prompt: "Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?". Type out the full word yes and press Enter.

Enter Password: Type your root password blindly when prompted (again, no letters will show on screen) and hit Enter.

Success! You are Connected

Once your password maps successfully, you will see a welcome terminal log screen showing details like server uptime, memory usage, and the standard root shell prompt:

Bash

[root@server ~]#

You are now inside your server space and can execute server installation updates or software setups freely!

Troubleshooting: Connection Timed Out? If you get a "Network error: Connection timed out" error, it usually means your server firewall or local internet connection is blocking Port 22, or the server is booting up.

Please ensure your server status is marked as Running inside your CeylonServers client workspace panel. If the blockage persists, please Open a Technical Ticket, and our infrastructure administrators will audit your network routing paths immediately!