First login (SSH / RDP)

Before connecting to your new server for the first time, make sure you have the IP address, username, password and port number from your welcome email or WHMCS client area. You’ll use **SSH** to access Linux-based servers and **RDP** to access Windows servers. Below are step-by-step instructions for each.

## Logging in to a Windows server via RDP

1. **Open Remote Desktop Connection** – On a Windows machine press `Windows+R`, type `mstsc` and press **Enter**. Alternatively search your Start menu for “Remote Desktop Connection.”
2. **Enter the connection details** – In the **Computer** field, enter your server’s IP address (for example `172.17.172.1`) and click **Connect**.
3. **Authenticate** – When prompted, enter the username (usually **Administrator**) and the initial password you received. If Windows displays a certificate warning, click **Yes** to continue.
4. **Change your password** – Once logged in, change the Administrator password and create additional user accounts with appropriate privileges.
5. **Troubleshooting** – If you cannot connect, verify the virtual machine is running, that TCP port 3389 (RDP) is open, and that your user permissions are correct.

## Logging in to a Linux server via SSH

### Using PuTTY on Windows

1. **Install PuTTY** – Download PuTTY from [putty.org](https://www.putty.org/) and launch it.
2. **Enter connection details** – In the **Session** menu, set **Host Name (or IP address)** to your server’s IP, set **Port** to `22`, and ensure the connection type is **SSH**. Click **Open**.
3. **Authenticate** – When the terminal window opens, type your username (for example `root`) at the `login as:` prompt, press **Enter**, then type the password. You may not see it as you type (this is normal).
4. **Change your password** – After logging in, change the password using the `passwd` command and create new non-root user accounts with the appropriate privileges.

### Using SSH from a terminal (Linux/macOS)

1. **Open a terminal** – On Linux or macOS, open **Terminal**; on Windows, open **Command Prompt** or **PowerShell**.
2. **Connect using ssh** – Run `ssh username@server_ip` (for example `ssh [email protected]`). When prompted, enter your password.
3. **Post-login steps** – Change your password using `passwd` and add non-root user accounts as required.