Use the web console to access your VPS

The web console shows your VPS's screen in your browser, as if you had a monitor and keyboard plugged into the server. It works even when you can't connect over SSH, so it's the tool to use if you've locked yourself out with a firewall rule, broken the network settings, or need to see why the server won't start.

Open the console

1. Log in to the client area and go to Services → My Services (https://www.hooplahosting.co.nz/client/clientarea.php?action=services).
2. Click Manage next to your VPS.
3. Click Open Console. The console opens in a new browser window or tab. If nothing happens, check whether your browser blocked a pop-up.

Log in

At the login: prompt, type root and press Enter. Then type your root password and press Enter.

• Nothing appears on screen while you type the password. That's normal on Linux. Just type it and press Enter.
• Copy and paste often doesn't work in the console, so you may need to type the password in by hand.
• If the screen is black, click inside the console window and press Enter to wake it up.

When you've finished, type exit to log out, then close the window.

Common fixes you can make from the console

You locked yourself out with the firewall. Turn the firewall off so you can connect over SSH again, then fix the rules and turn it back on.

Ubuntu/Debian with UFW:

ufw disable

AlmaLinux/Rocky with firewalld:

systemctl stop firewalld

SSH has stopped responding. Restart the SSH service.

Ubuntu/Debian:

systemctl restart ssh

AlmaLinux/Rocky:

systemctl restart sshd

You're not sure the network is working. Check the server has its IP address, and can reach the internet:

ip addr
ping -c 3 1.1.1.1

Compare the IP address shown with the one under IP Assignments on your VPS's management page.

The disk is full. A full disk can stop services, including SSH, from working. Check free space with:

df -h

When to use the console, and when to use SSH

The console is great for emergencies, but it's slower and more awkward for everyday work. Once you can connect over SSH again, use an SSH app instead. It's faster, and copy and paste work normally.

Troubleshooting

• The console won't open: allow pop-ups for our site, or try a different browser.
• "Login incorrect": check you're typing root as the username and the correct password. Watch out for Caps Lock.
• The console shows errors while starting, or stops before the login prompt: open a support ticket and include a description or screenshot of what you see.

Related guides

• Manage your VPS from the client area
• Find your VPS login details and IP address

Need help?

Our Cloud VPS plans are self-managed, so you're responsible for installing, securing and maintaining the software on your server. If something on our side isn't working, such as the network, or your VPS won't boot, open a support ticket.