Using the Control Panel
Start, stop, restart, reinstall, and access the web console for your vps.direct VPS.
Using the Control Panel
You manage your VPS from two places: the Client Area for billing and ordering, and the VPS control panel for day-to-day server actions.
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Order, upgrade, cancel, invoices, tickets | Client Area |
| Power on/off, reboot, reinstall, console, firewall | VPS control panel |
Open the control panel
- Log in to the Client Area.
- Go to Services and select your VPS.
- Click the management / console link to open the VPS control panel for that server.
Your VPS welcome email contains the IP address, initial root credentials, and a direct link to the control panel for that specific service.
Power actions
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Start | Powers on a stopped VPS |
| Stop / Shutdown | Graceful power-off (OS-level) |
| Force Stop | Hard power-off if the OS is unresponsive |
| Restart / Reboot | Graceful reboot |
Use a graceful stop or reboot first. Only use Force Stop if the server is frozen and won't respond — it's the equivalent of pulling the plug and can cause filesystem checks on the next boot.
Web console (VNC)
The web console lets you interact with your VPS as if you had a physical screen and keyboard attached. It works even when SSH is broken or the network is misconfigured.
Use it to:
- Recover from a bad firewall rule that locked you out of SSH
- Fix a broken network configuration
- Watch the boot process when a server won't start
- Log in with the root password after a reinstall
The web console is your safety net. If you're about to change firewall rules or network settings, make sure you know how to open the console first — it's the only way back in if you break SSH.
Reinstall the operating system
The reinstall feature wipes your disk and installs a fresh OS template. Use it to change operating systems or start over from a clean state.
Back up your data
Reinstall erases everything on the disk. Download anything you need first.
Open the control panel
Select your VPS and choose the reinstall / OS template option.
Pick a template
Choose your operating system (for example, Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux).
Confirm and wait
The reinstall runs automatically. The VPS reboots into the fresh OS when done — usually a few minutes.
Reinstalling gives you a new root password and a clean disk. Your old data and any custom configuration are gone. Save your work first.
Other common actions
- Snapshots / backups — automated backups are included; check the control panel for restore points and retention.
- Firewall — manage host-level firewall rules from the panel in addition to your in-OS firewall (
ufw/nftables). - Rescue mode — boot into a minimal rescue environment to repair a broken system without reinstalling.
- Reinstall credentials — after a reinstall, new root credentials are emailed to you.
When to use a ticket vs. the panel
The control panel covers self-service actions. Open a support ticket from the Client Area for anything you can't do yourself: additional IPs, rDNS, custom network setups, or billing changes.