How to Reinstall the OS on Your VPS from the JUSTG Client Area

Reinstalling the operating system is the fastest way to start over with a clean VPS, switch from one Linux distribution to another, move between Linux and Windows Server, or recover a server that no longer boots. This guide shows how to reinstall the OS of a JUSTG VPS from the client area, what to back up first, and what to do after the reinstall. It applies to cloud servers in all JUSTG locations: Johannesburg, Moscow, Tokyo and Seoul.

Step 1: Back up your data before reinstalling

Copy everything you want to keep to another machine. On Linux, for example, create an archive and download it with scp from your own computer:

# on the VPS
tar czf /root/site-backup.tar.gz /var/www /etc/nginx
mysqldump --all-databases > /root/all-db.sql
# on your computer
scp [email protected]:/root/site-backup.tar.gz .
scp [email protected]:/root/all-db.sql .

On Windows Server, copy important folders to a local drive through the Remote Desktop clipboard or upload them to external storage. Also write down settings you will need again, such as firewall rules and additional IP addresses.

Step 2: Log in to the client area

Open the JUSTG client area and sign in with your account email and password.

Step 3: Open the VPS control panel

Go to My Products & Services and click the VPS you want to reinstall. On the service page, open the management or control panel area. The control panel can take a few seconds to load, so please wait until the options appear.

If the panel takes a long time or stays blank, try the following:

• Refresh the page once and wait about 30 seconds.
• Use another browser or a private window, or disable ad blockers and script blockers for the site.
• Check that the service is active and not suspended because of an unpaid invoice.

Step 4: Choose the operating system and set a password

Click the Reinstall or OS option. After the list loads, select the operating system you want, for example Debian, Ubuntu, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux or Windows Server, depending on what is offered for your plan. Enter a new root or Administrator password. Some panels also show a key icon that generates a random password for you; if you use it, copy the password to a safe place before you continue. Confirm the reinstall.

A good password is at least 16 characters long and mixes upper case, lower case, numbers and symbols.

Step 5: Wait for the installation to finish

A Linux reinstall usually completes within a few minutes; Windows Server takes longer. Do not start, stop or reinstall the VPS again while the process is running. When it finishes, the VPS boots automatically with the new operating system. The IPv4 and IPv6 addresses stay the same.

Step 6: Log in to the reinstalled VPS

Because the server now has new SSH host keys, your computer will warn that the host key has changed. Remove the old key and connect again:

ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.40
ssh [email protected]

For Windows Server, connect with Remote Desktop (mstsc) as Administrator. Then update the system and restore your data:

# Debian / Ubuntu
apt update && apt -y upgrade
# CentOS / Rocky / AlmaLinux
dnf -y update

Remember to recreate your firewall rules and configure any additional IP addresses again, because those settings were stored on the old system.

FAQ

How long does a VPS reinstall take?

Most Linux images are ready within a few minutes. Windows Server images need more time to install and run their first-boot setup. If the VPS is still not reachable after about 30 minutes, submit a ticket.

Will my IP address change after reinstalling?

No. The reinstall replaces only the operating system and data on the disk. Your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses remain the same.

I forgot the password I set during the reinstall. What can I do?

Check whether your control panel offers a password reset option. Otherwise, submit a ticket from the client area.

If you still have problems after following this guide, submit a ticket and the JUSTG technical support team will help you.