Your VPS control panel provides the power and recovery actions you need when SSH is not available.
Reboot
Prefer a graceful reboot from inside the server: reboot over SSH. Use the panel’s reboot only when the server is unresponsive — a forced power cycle can leave the filesystem inconsistent.
Reinstall the operating system
A reinstall wipes the disk completely and gives you a clean server with new root credentials. Back up everything you need first — this cannot be undone. Use it when you want a different OS, or when a server is too broken or too compromised to trust.
Rescue mode
Rescue mode boots the server from a recovery image so you can mount and repair the main disk. Use it to:
- Recover files when the server will not boot
- Fix a broken
/etc/fstabor bootloader - Reset a forgotten root password
- Undo a firewall rule that locked you out
Mount the main partition, make the change, unmount, then boot normally.
Console access
The panel’s console (VNC or serial) gives you a screen as if you were sitting at the machine. It works even when networking or SSH is broken, and is the first thing to try before a reinstall.
Before you do anything drastic
- Take a snapshot or backup if the panel offers one.
- Note what you changed just before the problem started — it is usually the cause.
- Open a ticket. Many "unbootable" servers are recoverable, and a reinstall is rarely the only option.
