This article covers the most common reasons you cannot connect to your VPS via SSH and walks you through fixing each one. If you are on a freshly provisioned VPS and have never connected via SSH before, start from Step 1.
Your VPS is always accessible through the NoVNC / Serial Console in the ServerSpan control panel, regardless of SSH status. Use it to run the commands below.
Quick-Reference: Commands by OS Family
| Operating System | Install SSH | Enable & Start | Restart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian / Ubuntu | apt install openssh-server -y |
(automatic on install) | systemctl restart ssh |
| Rocky / AlmaLinux / RHEL / Fedora | dnf install openssh-server -y |
systemctl enable --now sshd |
systemctl restart sshd |
| openSUSE / SLES | zypper install openssh-server -y |
systemctl enable --now sshd |
systemctl restart sshd |
| Arch / Manjaro | pacman -Sy openssh |
systemctl enable --now sshd |
systemctl restart sshd |
| Alpine Linux | apk add openssh-server |
rc-update add sshd && rc-service sshd start |
rc-service sshd restart |
| FreeBSD | (pre-installed) | sysrc sshd_enable="YES" && service sshd start |
service sshd restart |
| OpenBSD | (pre-installed) | rcctl enable sshd && rcctl start sshd |
rcctl restart sshd |
| LXC without systemd | same as distro above | service ssh start |
service ssh restart |
Step 1 — Set a Root Password
In the NoVNC console, run:
passwd rootType the new password twice and press Enter. Nothing appears on screen while typing — this is normal.
Step 2 — Allow Root Login with Password
Open the SSH configuration file:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_configFind and set these two lines (remove the leading # if present):
PermitRootLogin yes
PasswordAuthentication yesSave with Ctrl+X → Y → Enter.
Ubuntu 22.04 / 24.04 only — also check the override file:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.confIf it contains PasswordAuthentication no, change it to yes and save.
Restart SSH (use the correct command from the table above), then verify the active config:
sshd -T | grep -E "permitrootlogin|passwordauthentication"Both lines must show yes. If not, a config override is still active — check all files under /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/.
Step 3 — Connect with PuTTY (Windows)
- Download PuTTY from putty.org
- Enter your VPS IP in Host Name, Port 22, Connection type SSH
- Click Open → Accept the host key → Login as
root - Type your password (nothing shows — this is normal) and press Enter
Step 3 — Connect from Linux / macOS
ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IPType yes to accept the fingerprint on first connection, then enter your password.
Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Connection refused |
SSH not running or firewall blocking port 22 | Start sshd (see table above). On Ubuntu: ufw allow 22/tcp && ufw reload. On RHEL: firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh && firewall-cmd --reload |
Permission denied |
Wrong password, or PermitRootLogin / PasswordAuthentication still restricted | Run sshd -T | grep -E "permitrootlogin|passwordauthentication" — both must show yes. Check override files in /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/ |
| Password field does nothing | Normal terminal behavior — passwords are never shown | Keep typing and press Enter |
REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED |
OS reinstalled, old key cached locally | Run ssh-keygen -R YOUR_VPS_IP on your local machine, then reconnect |
| SSH starts then crashes (Alpine / minimal LXC) | Missing host keys | Run ssh-keygen -A on the server, then start sshd again |
For a full walkthrough with explanations for every OS family, see the complete guide:
How to Enable SSH on a VPS and Connect with PuTTY — Complete Guide
If you are still unable to connect after following these steps, open a support ticket and include the exact error message from PuTTY or your terminal.