---
title: "How to Use the Terminal and Console (VNC) on Your Self-Managed VPS"
id: "90033"
type: "ht_kb"
slug: "how-to-use-the-terminal-and-console-vnc"
published_at: "2026-10-13T00:40:18+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-27T22:33:56+00:00"
url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-use-the-terminal-and-console-vnc/"
markdown_url: "https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/how-to-use-the-terminal-and-console-vnc.md"
excerpt: "This article explains how to access your Self-Managed VPS through the Terminal and Console (VNC) in the GreenGeeks dashboard. Use these tools when SSH is not working, such as after a firewall or network change, or to watch your server..."
taxonomy_ht_kb_category:
  - "Self Managed VPS Hosting"
  - "Server Questions"
---

This article explains how to access your Self-Managed VPS through the **Terminal** and **Console (VNC)** in the GreenGeeks dashboard. Use these tools when SSH is not working, such as after a firewall or network change, or to watch your server start up.

## Table of Contents

- [Terminal vs. Console](#terminal-vs-console)
- [How to Use the Terminal](#how-to-use-the-terminal)
- [How to Use the Console (VNC)](#how-to-use-the-console-vnc)
  - [Paste Text Into the Console](#paste-text-into-the-console)
  - [Send Ctrl+Alt+Del](#send-ctrlaltdel)
  - [Watch the Server Start Up](#watch-the-server-start-up)

- [Recover From Common Lockouts](#recover-from-common-lockouts)
- [Troubleshooting the Terminal and Console](#troubleshooting-the-terminal-and-console)

## Terminal vs. Console

Both tools connect to your server directly from the dashboard, without using your server’s network connection or SSH.

|  | Terminal | Console (VNC) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it shows | A text command line | Your server’s screen |
| Best for | Running commands and editing files | Watching the server start up, and when the Terminal does not respond |
| Pasting text | Yes (right-click -> Paste as Plain Text) | Paste button |
| Special keys | Standard keyboard | Ctrl+Alt+Del button |
| Works without SSH or network access | Yes | Yes |

Start with the **Terminal**. Switch to the **Console (VNC)** if the Terminal is blank, the server is not starting, or you need to see startup messages.

## How to Use the Terminal

1. Log in to your GreenGeeks dashboard.
2. Select **Servers** in the left menu.
3. Click **Manage** next to your Self-Managed VPS.
4. Select **Terminal** in the left menu.

1. Click inside the black terminal area.
2. Type `root` at the `login:` prompt.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Enter your root password.
5. Press **Enter**.

You are now logged in and can run commands as you would over SSH. Your root password is on the **Overview** page under **VPS Details**.

**Note:** The password does not appear on screen as you type. This is normal.

## How to Use the Console (VNC)

1. Go to your server in the dashboard.
2. Select **Settings** in the left menu.
3. Select **Console (VNC)**.

1. Click inside the console screen.
2. Type `root` at the `login:` prompt.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Enter your root password.
5. Press **Enter**.

While the Console page is open, your keyboard and mouse control the server. To stop sending keystrokes, click a text field outside the console or go to another page.

#### Paste Text Into the Console

1. Copy the text on your computer.
2. Click **Paste** at the top of the Console page.
3. Add your text into the clipboard pop-up box and click Paste.

#### Send Ctrl+Alt+Del

Click **Ctrl+Alt+Del** at the top of the Console page. This restarts most Linux servers.

#### Watch the Server Start Up

The Console stays open during a reboot. It shows **Connection lost — reconnecting** while the server restarts, then reconnects by itself and shows startup messages.

Use this to see where the server stops if it does not finish starting.

## Recover From Common Lockouts

| Problem | How to recover |
| --- | --- |
| Forgot the root password | Set a new one on the Overview page. See How to Connect to Your Self-Managed VPS |
| SSH blocked by a dashboard firewall rule | Fix the rule on the Firewall page. See How to Manage the Self-Managed VPS Firewall . |
| SSH blocked by a firewall inside the server (ufw or iptables) | Log in through the Terminal and turn off the rule, for example with ufw allow 22/tcp or ufw disable. |
| SSH service stopped or misconfigured | Log in through the Terminal and restart it with systemctl restart ssh. |
| Network configuration broken | Log in through the Terminal and restore your netplan file in /etc/netplan/, then run netplan apply. |
| Server does not finish starting | Open the Console (VNC) to read the startup messages. If you cannot fix the problem, rebuild the server. |
| Nothing else works | Rebuild the server. This erases all data. See How to Rebuild Your Self-Managed VPS . |

GreenGeeks support does not troubleshoot problems caused by changes inside the server. See [Self-Managed VPS Scope of Support](https://www.greengeeks.com/support/article/self-managed-vps-scope-of-support/)

**Tip:** Make a copy of your network configuration before you change it:

```
cp /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml /root/50-cloud-init.yaml.bak
```

## Troubleshooting the Terminal and Console

| Message or symptom | Meaning and fix |
| --- | --- |
| This server is offline. The console will connect automatically once it is powered on. | The server is powered off. Select Power and then Power on. |
| Connection lost — reconnecting | The server is restarting. Wait for the Console to reconnect. |
| Terminal shows a blank screen | Press Enter to show the login prompt. If nothing appears, use the Console (VNC). |
| Login fails with the correct password | Set a new root password from the Overview page and try again. |
| Keystrokes go to the wrong place | Click inside the console screen before typing. |