---
title: "How to Connect to Your Self-Managed VPS"
id: "90031"
type: "ht_kb"
slug: "how-to-connect-to-your-self-managed-vps"
published_at: "2026-10-13T00:40:18+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-27T22:33:55+00:00"
url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-connect-to-your-self-managed-vps/"
markdown_url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-connect-to-your-self-managed-vps.md"
excerpt: "This article explains how to find your Self-Managed VPS login details and connect to it over SSH. It also covers adding SSH keys, changing the root password, and changing the hostname from the GreenGeeks dashboard. Table of Contents Find Your..."
taxonomy_ht_kb_category:
  - "Self Managed VPS Hosting"
  - "Server Questions"
---

This article explains how to find your Self-Managed VPS login details and connect to it over SSH. It also covers adding SSH keys, changing the root password, and changing the hostname from the GreenGeeks dashboard.

## Table of Contents

- [Find Your Server Details](#find-your-server-details)
- [Connect With SSH](#connect-with-ssh)
- [Add an SSH Key](#add-an-ssh-key)
- [Change the Root Password](#change-the-root-password)
- [Change the Hostname](#change-the-hostname)
- [Fix the Remote Host Identification Has Changed Warning](#fix-the-remote-host-identification-has-changed-warning)
- [Next Steps](#next-steps)

## Find Your Server Details

1. Log in to your GreenGeeks dashboard.
2. Select **Servers** in the left menu.

1. Click **Manage** next to your Self-Managed VPS: [***Virtual Private Server (KVM)***]

The **Overview** page shows the details you need to connect:

| Detail | Where to find it |
| --- | --- |
| Primary IP | Top of the page and in VPS Details |
| SSH command | Root access, for example ssh [email protected] |
| Root password | VPS Details. Click the eye icon to show it or the copy icon to copy it. |
| Free domain | Domain in VPS Details, for example abc123.ggsvm.net |

## Connect With SSH

Use the terminal app on your computer: **Terminal** on macOS and Linux, or **Windows Terminal** or **PowerShell** on Windows.

1. Open the terminal app on your computer.
2. Enter the SSH command from **Root access**:

```
ssh [email protected]
```

1. Type `yes` and press **Enter** if you are asked to confirm the server’s fingerprint.
2. Enter the root password when prompted. If you added an SSH key, you are logged in without a password.

If SSH does not connect, use the **Terminal** or **Console (VNC)** in the dashboard instead. See [How to Use the Terminal and Console on Your Self-Managed VPS](https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-use-the-terminal-and-console-vnc/)

## Add an SSH Key

SSH keys are more secure than passwords. Keys you add are saved to your GreenGeeks account and can be used on any of your servers.

1. Select **Settings** in the left menu.
2. Select **SSH Keys**.

1. Click **Add SSH Key**.
2. Enter a name for the key in the **Name** field.
3. Paste your public key into the **Public key** field. A public key file usually ends in `.pub`, such as `id_ed25519.pub`.

1. Click **Add Key**.

The new key is switched **On** for this server and installed for the root user right away. To remove a key from this server, switch its toggle off. To delete a key from your account, click the trash icon.

**Note:** Never paste a private key. A private key file has no `.pub` extension.

## Change the Root Password

Use this to set a new root password, including when you have forgotten the current one.

1. Go to the **Overview** page.
2. Click **Change** next to **Root password** in **VPS Details**.

1. Enter a new password of 8 to 128 characters, or click **Generate Strong Password**.
2. Select **Allow a brief reboot to apply the password if required** if the server may need a restart.
3. Click **Set Password**.

The new password applies right away if the server is responding. If the server is not responding, the password applies after a brief restart, but only if you selected the reboot option.

## Change the Hostname

1. Go to the **Overview** page.
2. Click **Change** next to **Hostname** in **VPS Details**.

1. Enter the new hostname, such as `web1` or `web1.example.com`.
2. Click **Change**.

The hostname updates on the server right away and stays the same if you rebuild the server.

## Fix the Remote Host Identification Has Changed Warning

After you rebuild your server, your computer shows a **REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED** warning the next time you connect. This happens because the rebuild gives the server a new SSH identity.

1. Open the terminal app on your computer.
2. Remove the old entry for your server’s IP address:

```
ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.10
```

1. Connect again with your normal SSH command.

Only remove the old entry if you rebuilt the server. If you see this warning without a rebuild, contact support.

## Next Steps

A new Self-Managed VPS is not hardened for production use. Before you host anything important:

- Install updates with `apt update && apt upgrade`.
- Set up SSH key login and consider disabling password login.
- Add firewall rules. See [How to Manage the Self-Managed VPS Firewall](https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-manage-the-self-managed-vps-firewall/) .
- Set up off-server backups. GreenGeeks does not back up Self-Managed VPS data.

For more on securing Ubuntu, see the [Ubuntu Server security documentation](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/server/explanation/security/)
.