How to Connect to a Linux VPS via SSH (Windows, macOS, Linux, IPv6)

SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard way to manage a Linux VPS from the command line. This guide shows how to make your first SSH login to a JUSTG Linux cloud server in Johannesburg, Moscow, Tokyo or Seoul from Windows 10/11 (Windows Terminal or PowerShell), PuTTY, macOS and Linux. It also covers the host key prompt, connecting over the free IPv6 address included with every JUSTG VPS, and how to fix the most common SSH connection errors. It applies to Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux images.

Step 1: Find your VPS IP address and root password

After payment your VPS is provisioned instantly. Log in to the JUSTG client area, open My Products & Services, select the VPS and look at its details page. Write down three things: the IPv4 address, the IPv6 address (if you plan to use it) and the root password. The examples below use the documentation addresses 203.0.113.25 and 2001:db8::10; replace them with your own. The default SSH port is 22.

Step 2: SSH login from Windows Terminal or PowerShell

Windows 10 (1809 and later), Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019/2022 ship with the OpenSSH client, so you do not need extra software. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and run:

ssh [email protected]

If your server listens on a different port, add -p:

ssh -p 2222 [email protected]

When asked for the password, paste it with a right click (Windows Terminal) or Ctrl+Shift+V. Nothing is displayed while you type, which is normal. If the ssh command is not recognized, install it under Settings > Apps > Optional features > OpenSSH Client.

Step 3: SSH login with PuTTY

PuTTY is a popular graphical SSH client for Windows. Download it only from the official PuTTY website, then:

1. Enter the server IP in Host Name (or IP address) and keep Port at 22.
2. Make sure Connection type is SSH.
3. Type a name under Saved Sessions and click Save so you can reuse it.
4. Click Open, log in as root and paste the password with a right click.

Step 4: SSH login from macOS or Linux terminal

On macOS open Terminal (Applications > Utilities); on Linux open any terminal emulator. The OpenSSH client is preinstalled on macOS and on almost every desktop distribution:

ssh [email protected]

To save typing, add an entry to ~/.ssh/config and then connect with ssh justg-tokyo:

Host justg-tokyo
    HostName 203.0.113.25
    User root
    Port 22

Step 5: Accept the SSH host key fingerprint

On the first connection the client shows a message such as The authenticity of host ... can't be established together with an ED25519 or ECDSA fingerprint. This is expected: your computer has never seen this server before. Type yes to store the key in ~/.ssh/known_hosts. In PuTTY click Accept. From then on the client checks that the key has not changed, which protects you from man-in-the-middle attacks.

Step 6: Connect to the VPS over IPv6

Every JUSTG cloud server includes a free IPv6 address. If your local network has IPv6 connectivity, you can SSH directly to it:

ssh root@2001:db8::10
ssh -6 root@2001:db8::10

The -6 flag forces IPv6. In PuTTY just paste the IPv6 address into the host field. In ~/.ssh/config write the address without brackets after HostName. You can test whether your own connection supports IPv6 with ping -6 2001:db8::10 (use your real address). IPv6 access is also useful as a backup path if the IPv4 address is unreachable from your network.

Step 7: Fix common SSH connection errors

• Connection timed out: the IP is wrong, the VPS is powered off, or a firewall blocks port 22. Check the server status in the client area and use the VNC/console there to inspect the firewall.
• Connection refused: the server is reachable but SSH is not listening on that port. Restart the service from the console: systemctl restart ssh (Debian/Ubuntu) or systemctl restart sshd (CentOS/Rocky/AlmaLinux).
• Permission denied (publickey,password): wrong password, or password login is disabled. Copy the password again without trailing spaces, or reset it in the client area.
• REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED: usually appears after you reinstall the OS. Remove the old key with ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.25 and connect again.

ssh -v [email protected]

The -v option prints verbose debug output that shows exactly where the connection stops.

FAQ

Is it safe to keep logging in as root with a password?

It works for the first login, but for production servers you should create a sudo user, switch to SSH key authentication and disable root password login. See our tutorial on securing a new VPS.

Why does nothing appear when I type the password?

SSH hides password input completely, without asterisks. Type or paste it and press Enter.

Can I use SSH if my network has no IPv6?

Yes. Simply connect to the IPv4 address. IPv6 is optional and only works when both your network and the server have IPv6 connectivity.

If you still cannot connect, please submit a ticket to JUSTG technical support with the output of ssh -v and we will help you.