Connect to your VPS via SSH from macOS or Linux

SSH (Secure Shell) is how you log into your LochStudios KVM VPS from a Mac or Linux PC and run commands as if you were at the machine. macOS and Linux already include the OpenSSH client, so you do not install extra software. We listen on port 22. The IPv4, username, password, and an out-of-band console all sit on that server in the portal. Do not guess a hostname.

On a new VPS the login is often root. After you create a sudo user, use that account for daily work. See First steps on a new VPS.

On Windows, use Connect to your VPS via SSH from Windows instead.

Find the login in the portal

1. Sign in at the portal.
2. Open the VPS service.
3. Copy the IPv4, username, and password shown there.

Keep that page open the first time. If SSH from your computer will not connect, open the console on the same service. The console does not need port 22 from your network.

Connect from Terminal

1. Open a terminal.

- On macOS: press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, and press Enter.
- On Linux: open Terminal from the application menu, or right-click the desktop and choose Open Terminal.

1. Confirm ssh is available.

```
ssh -V
```

If the command is missing on Linux, install the client (Debian and Ubuntu: sudo apt install openssh-client), then try again.

1. Connect. Swap in the username and IPv4 from the portal.

```
ssh youruser@203.0.113.10
```

Add -p and a port number only if you changed the SSH port yourself.

1. Accept the host key the first time. The client asks you to confirm the server fingerprint, for example:

```
The authenticity of host '203.0.113.10 (203.0.113.10)' can't be established.
ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:xxxxxxxx.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?
```

Type yes and press Enter so your computer can save it.

1. Enter the password from the portal and press Enter. Nothing prints as you type. That is normal.

You should land at a shell prompt on the VPS.

Optional: save the host

You can type a short name instead of the full ssh user@ip command.

OpenSSH config (recommended)

mkdir -p ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh
nano ~/.ssh/config

Add a block (use your real user and IPv4):

Host myvps
    HostName 203.0.113.10
    User root

Save (Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter) and set permissions:

chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config

After that, ssh myvps is enough.

Shell alias

If you prefer an alias, add one to ~/.zshrc (macOS, and most current Linux desktops) or ~/.bashrc (Bash):

alias myvps="ssh youruser@203.0.113.10"

Reload the file (source ~/.zshrc or source ~/.bashrc). Then type myvps.

Prefer keys over a password

A password is fine for the first login. For daily use, put an SSH key on the VPS and turn password login off. See Secure SSH with key-based authentication.

If you cannot connect

The client never reaches a login prompt

• Compare the IPv4 to the one on the VPS service in the portal. Type it again.
• Confirm you are on a network that allows outbound TCP 22. Some office and hotel Wi-Fi block it. Try another network, or use the console in the portal.
• If you recently changed the firewall or sshd on the VPS, you may have closed your own access. Open the console and check. On Ubuntu, see Set up a UFW firewall on Ubuntu.

The client reaches the server but the login fails

• Use the username and password from the portal. Watch for Caps Lock and a stray space.
• If you already created a sudo user, that account's password is the one you set, not the original root password.

The client says the host key does not match

That happens after a rebuild or a fresh OS install, when the VPS has a new host key. Remove the old fingerprint, then connect again:

ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.10
ssh youruser@203.0.113.10

Use the IPv4 from the portal. Accept the new fingerprint only if you expect the key to have changed.

You need a shell right now

Open the console on the VPS service in the portal. That session does not depend on SSH from your computer.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket. Tell us the VPS service, the IPv4 you used, the username, and what the client showed. Do not send the password in the ticket.

What to do once you are in

• Patch the OS and add a sudo user: First steps on a new VPS
• Restrict SSH to keys: Secure SSH with key-based authentication
• Allow only the ports you need: Set up a UFW firewall on Ubuntu
• Watch CPU, disk, and memory: Monitor Server Resources

Unsure about any of those steps? Open a support ticket and we will walk through it with you.