For Linux-based offshore VPS instances, the primary way to access and manage your server is via SSH (Secure Shell). SSH allows you to open a secure terminal session to your server to run commands, install software, and edit configurations.

How to SSH into your VPS:

1. Obtain IP and Credentials: Find your VPS’s IP address (from the client panel or welcome email) and the “root” user password. By default, Offshore-Servers will have emailed you a root password or you may have set one during the order. Ensure the VPS is in “Running” state.
2. Use an SSH Client: On Linux or macOS, you can open a Terminal and use the command ssh root@<YourVPS_IP>. On Windows, you’ll need an SSH client like PuTTY or the Windows Terminal (which now supports SSH). In PuTTY, enter your server’s IP as the Hostname and keep port 22 (default SSH port), then click “Open”.
3. Host Key Verification: The first time you connect, you’ll get a prompt about the server’s host key/fingerprint. This is a security measure – you can accept it (click “Yes” in PuTTY or type “yes” in terminal) to trust the server going forward.
4. Login with Username/Password: When prompted for login, enter root as the username (for Linux VPS, root is the superuser). Then enter the root password. (PuTTY will prompt in a popup or console for the password; in a Unix terminal you’ll type it invisibly.) Press Enter and you should be logged in if the credentials are correct.
5. Start Managing Your Server: You now have a shell on your offshore VPS. You can run commands like apt update (on Ubuntu/Debian) or yum update (on CentOS) to update packages, create new user accounts, configure your web server, etc. As root, you have full control over the system.

Tips for SSH and Linux VPS:

• Keep your root password secure. It’s wise to change the default password on first login (passwd command) to something strong. Even better, set up SSH key authentication for passwordless login and disable password login for root for higher security (this is an advanced step, but greatly improves security).
• The SSH service uses port 22 by default. If Offshore-Servers has configured a non-standard port for SSH (some providers do for security), that will be noted in your details. In that case, you’d use ssh -p <port> or configure PuTTY to the alternate port. Otherwise, assume port 22.
• Ensure your local network allows outbound SSH. If you can’t connect, check that your ISP or firewall isn’t blocking port 22. The VPS by default should allow SSH in (no firewall active initially unless the OS image has one).
• If you lose connectivity or the session times out, you can always reconnect. For long-running processes, consider using a terminal multiplexer like screen or tmux on the server so they continue even if your SSH disconnects.

SSH gives you full administrative control over your offshore Linux server. All management (installing a web server, configuring applications, setting up firewall rules, etc.) will be done through the SSH terminal. Refer to online documentation for your Linux distro for specific commands and best practices. With SSH, you maintain an encrypted, secure connection to your VPS from anywhere in the world – ensuring your management of the offshore server remains private and safe from eavesdropping.