# VPSDime Knowledge Base > 203 guides for VPSDime's self-managed Linux, Premium, Windows and Storage VPS: getting started, the client area and billing, technical how-tos, troubleshooting, Windows VPS, pre-sales questions, support scope and acceptable use. Written by VPSDime staff; every article carries a last-reviewed date. Site summary: https://vpsdime.com/llms.txt. Full text of the knowledge base in one file: https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/llms-full.txt. Whole site in one file: https://vpsdime.com/llms-full.txt. Every page below is also available as Markdown at its URL with .md appended. Knowledge base home: https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase. ## Getting started - [Getting started: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started): The first steps after your VPS is deployed, connecting over SSH, uploading files with SFTP, pointing your domain, hosting a website with free SSL, securing the server properly, and setting up real backups. - [Your first 30 minutes on a new VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/first-30-minutes): The checklist: update, sudo user, keys, firewall, backups, half of it doable on the deploy form itself. - [Managing your VPSDime VPS, the control panel tour](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/managing-your-vpsdime-vps): The control panel tour: one login for billing and servers, and everything that's self-service. - [Connecting to your VPS (SSH)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/connecting-to-your-vps): Username, password, your first ssh command, the Console fallback, and why Linux isn't RDP. - [Terminal basics for your first VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/terminal-basics): Enough shell to run a server: tab completion, nano, systemctl, logs, and the safety habits. - [Using Claude Code on your VPS, safely](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/claude-code-on-vps): The AI agent as junior sysadmin, install, what it's good at, and the leash (CLAUDE.md rules included). - [Running a self-hosted AI agent (OpenClaw, Hermes) on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/self-hosted-ai-agents): The always-on agents with a web panel: honest RAM requirements, and why you must never expose the control panel to the internet. - [Setting up SSH keys, properly, on any OS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/setting-up-ssh-keys): Generate on any OS, deploy via the panel or ssh-copy-id, the agent, and the config file. - [Uploading files to your VPS (SFTP)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/uploading-files-sftp): Built into SSH, nothing to install, FileZilla/WinSCP or scp/rsync. - [Pointing your domain at your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/pointing-your-domain): A records, Cloudflare, or our free DNS Manager, and propagation expectations. - [Hosting a website on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/hosting-a-website): One-click apps vs nginx/Caddy, and free SSL with Let's Encrypt. - [Cloudflare best practices for your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/cloudflare-best-practices): Locking the origin to Cloudflare's IPs, real visitor IPs in your logs, Full (strict) SSL, and caching that actually caches HTML. - [SSL/TLS certificates: a complete guide](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/ssl-certificates): Every free ACME CA with instructions, challenge types (and why not to keep port 80 open just for renewals), wildcards done right, cipher best practices, and CA-fallback resilience. - [One-click Applications explained](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/one-click-applications): Coolify, Traccar, Immich, Code Server, picked on the deploy form, credentials emailed. - [Modern open-source control panels for your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/open-source-control-panels): Coolify, Dokploy, Dokku, HestiaCP, CloudPanel, and the security rule for all of them. - [Should I host my own email on a VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/self-hosting-email): The honest decision: what self-hosting costs in upkeep, when it's worth it, and the hybrid. - [Migrating from shared hosting to a VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/migrating-to-a-vps): The email decision, the hosts-file test, and the overlap week. - [Migrating a VPS to a new server](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/migrating-a-vps): Server-to-server rsync, database dumps, two-pass cutover, and the new-IP checklist. - [Securing your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/securing-your-vps): SSH keys, closed ports, automatic updates, acting fast on CVEs, and what to do if compromised. - [Securing publicly accessible services on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/securing-public-services): Bind databases and caches to localhost, service by service, and the scanner-report quick wins. - [Backing up your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/backing-up-your-vps): The 3-2-1 rule, database dumps, restic and friends, and how the Nightly Backups add-on fits in. - [How to raise a support ticket (and get it solved fast)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/raising-a-support-ticket): The first-reply-fix recipe, and why you paste what the server said, never what the chatbot said. ## Client area - [Client area: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area): Your VPSDime account, billing and payments, deploying a VPS, managing services, Nightly Backups, support, and the affiliate program. ### Account & sign-in - [Account & sign-in: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account): Help articles for signing in, two-factor authentication, linked sign-in providers, and creating an account at VPSDime. - [Signing in](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/signing-in): Email and password, "verify you're human", forgotten passwords. - [Reset a forgotten password](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/reset-password): Use the "Forgot password?" link to get a reset email and set a new one. - [Sign in with Google or GitHub](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/sign-in-with-google-or-github): One-click sign-in, the confirmation email, "no password needed". - [Creating an account](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/creating-an-account): Signing up on the site or during checkout. - [Two-factor authentication (overview)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/two-factor-overview): How 2FA works here, email codes vs an authenticator app. - [Set up an authenticator app](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/authenticator-app-setup): Switch to fast, offline 6-digit codes. - [Email login codes](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/email-login-codes): The default codes we email you, and what to do if one doesn't arrive. - [Backup codes](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/backup-codes): Your fallback when you lose your authenticator. - [Keeping your account secure](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/keeping-your-account-secure): A short checklist, and spotting suspicious activity. - [Account details](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/account-details): Update your name, email, address, billing contact, and marketing preferences. - [Change password](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/change-password): Change your password when you know your current one. - [Sign-in Methods](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/manage-sign-in-methods): Link or disconnect Google/GitHub, and set a password. - [Contacts & sub-accounts](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/contacts-and-sub-accounts): Add people as email contacts, or as sub-accounts with their own limited login. - [Email history](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/email-history): Read the emails we've sent to your account. - [Transferring a service to someone else](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/transfer-a-service): Move a VPS to another person's account. - [I can't sign in](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/cant-sign-in): Work through the common causes, and how to reach us. - [Account closed](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/account-closed): Why an account may be closed, and how to ask us to review it. - [Deleting your account & data](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/account/delete-your-account): Request permanent deletion of your account and personal data. ### Billing & payments - [Billing & payments: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing): Help articles for paying invoices, payment methods, account credit, automatic renewals, saved cards, changing your billing cycle, and managing renewal dates at VPSDime. - [Viewing and paying an invoice](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/invoices): Find invoices, pay an unpaid one, download a PDF, and what the statuses mean. - [Add funds (account credit)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/add-funds): Prepay a balance and let invoices draw from it. - [Automatic renewals (subscriptions)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/manage-subscriptions): Saved card vs Paddle vs Fastspring, and turning auto-renewal on or off. - [Saved cards](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/saved-cards): Add or remove a card on file for renewals. - [Change your billing cycle](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/change-billing-cycle): Switch a service between billing cycles yourself. - [Pay for your service in advance](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/pay-in-advance): Prepay 1 to 24 months so the renewal date moves forward. - [Sync your renewal dates](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/sync-due-dates): Align several services on one renewal date with a single invoice. - [Change your billing day](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/billing/change-billing-day): Move your renewal to a day of the month that suits you. ### Deploying a VPS - [Deploying a VPS: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/deploy): How to add a new VPS to your account from the Deploy page, choosing a plan, location, and OS, adding extras, and setting up how you'll log in. Covers Linux, Premium, and Windows VPS. - [Deploying a new VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/deploy/deploying-a-new-vps): Pick a plan, choose a location and OS, add any extras (backups, storage, bandwidth, IP), set up your SSH key or Administrator password, and pick a billing cycle. Covers Linux, Premium, and Windows VPS. - [Cloning a VPS into a new VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/deploy/cloning-a-vps): Deploy a new VPS as an exact copy of one you already have, requested by ticket. Free on systemd 232+ distros, $25 on older ones, and how long the source is powered off. ### Managing services - [Managing services: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services): Guides for running a VPS from the Service Management page, power and console, graphs and history, network and DNS, the firewall, reinstalling or rescuing the OS, SSH keys, plan changes and add-ons, and cancellation. - [My Services (your services list)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/my-services): Every service at a glance, renewal method, status, next due date, and the toggle that hides cancelled services. - [Managing your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/managing-your-vps): Home base: check health, power on/off and restart, open the Console, reset the root or Admin password, change the hostname, and move between datacenters. - [Reading your VPS graphs](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/graphs): CPU, memory, disk, and network over time, how to tell if your plan fits, and why to run an in-VPS monitoring agent for the detail. - [The Tasks log](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/tasks): A history of every action on your VPS and who did it, for troubleshooting and a quick security check. - [Network and IP addresses](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/network): Your IPv4/IPv6, netmask and gateway, and reverse DNS (rDNS/PTR) for mail deliverability. - [DNS Manager](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/dns): Free DNS hosting: point a domain at your VPS and manage A, AAAA, CNAME, NS, MX, and TXT records. - [The VPS firewall](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/firewall): The managed firewall (Linux and Storage VPS) that blocks risky app ports by default, and how to whitelist the sources that need in. - [SSH Keys](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/ssh-keys): Save your public keys and pick them when deploying or reinstalling (Linux and Premium VPS). - [Reinstalling your OS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/reinstall-os): Wipe and install a fresh OS or one-click app, with your key and login mode set up front. Destructive, so back up first. - [Boot from ISO (Premium VPS)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/boot-from-iso): Premium VPS: boot a rescue or installer ISO without touching your disk, to fix an unbootable system. - [Upgrading or downgrading your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/upgrade-downgrade): Move to a bigger or smaller plan. On Linux VPS it's live and instant, no downtime, same IP. Premium VPS is upgrade-only. - [Moving your VPS to another location](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/migrate-location): The $4 datacenter move with your data, the free re-provision when you don't need it, and the new-IP homework that comes with either. - [Extra Features (add-ons)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/extra-features): Add nightly backups, storage, vCPU, traffic, or IPs one at a time without changing your base plan. - [Cancelling a VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/cancellation): Request cancellation immediately or at the end of your billing period, and revoke it if you change your mind. ### Nightly Backups - [Nightly Backups: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups): Help articles for VPSDime Nightly Backups, turning the add-on on, viewing backups, restoring your VPS, recovering individual files, and downloading a full disk image. - [Nightly Backups (overview)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/nightly-backups-overview): What it is, who has it (Linux VPS add-on vs Premium VPS included), the once-a-night schedule, and 3-day retention. - [Turn on Nightly Backups](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/enable-nightly-backups): Add the $5/month add-on from the Extra Features tab, confirm it's active, and remove it. - [Viewing your backups](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/viewing-your-backups): Find your backups, read the list, and understand the Full and Incremental labels. - [Restore your VPS from a backup](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/restore-your-vps): The full restore: shut down first, Complete vs Undo, and the 7-day deadline. - [Recover individual files](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/recover-individual-files): Browse a backup to download specific files or copy them back to your VPS. - [Download a full disk image](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/download-full-disk-image): Get a complete copy of your VPS to keep, mount, or migrate. - [Backup problems and fixes](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/nightly-backups/backup-troubleshooting): Quick answers to the most common backup questions. ### Support & help - [Support & help: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/support): How to get help at VPSDime, open a support ticket, use the My VPS is Down troubleshooter, unblock your IP from the SSH firewall, and follow service status. - [Getting help](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/support/getting-help): Open a support ticket, find and reply to your tickets, and check service status announcements. - [My VPS is Down (troubleshooter)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/support/vps-troubleshooter): Run automatic diagnostics on a VPS, use the self-service fixes, and escalate to a ticket if needed. - [SSH firewall and blocked IPs](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/support/ssh-firewall): Why an IP gets blocked on port 22, and how to whitelist yours. ### Affiliate program - [Affiliate program: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/affiliates): Earn a recurring 10% commission by referring customers to VPSDime. Activate once, share your referral links, and track signups, commission, and withdrawals. - [The affiliate program](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/affiliates/affiliate-program): Activate your affiliate account, share your referral links (home, per product, per plan), and track signups, commission, and withdrawals. 10% recurring, 90-day cookie. ## Billing policies - [Billing policies: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing): How VPSDime billing works, the invoice schedule and what happens if you don't pay, the payment methods we accept, taxes, refunds, and how to query a charge. - [When invoices are due, and what happens if you don't pay](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/billing-timeline): The schedule, and suspension vs termination. - [Getting your data from a suspended VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/data-from-suspended-vps): Ask us for a 24-hour unsuspension to back up before termination. - [Payment methods we accept](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/payment-methods): Cards, wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and more), bank and local methods, and crypto. - [Paying with cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and USDT)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/crypto-payments): Bitcoin and USDT (TRC20, BEP20, ERC20) via CoinPayments: matching the network, following confirmations, fixing over/underpayments, and paying small invoices from credit. - [Refunds and credits](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/refunds): The 72-hour money-back guarantee, and what isn't refundable. - [Taxes (VAT and sales tax)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/taxes): How tax is added, and your VAT/GST number on invoices. - [Billing questions](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/billing-questions): A billing FAQ: pausing a service, late payment and fees, proration, saved cards, chargebacks, transfers, and querying a charge. - [Closing a PayPal dispute or case](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/close-a-paypal-dispute): How to withdraw a PayPal dispute, and what to do once it's a claim. - [Why did my card payment fail?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/card-payment-failed): Common decline reasons, "Exceeds frequency limit", and what to try. - [My invoice shows Pending or Security Review after I paid](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/invoice-pending-after-paying): What each status means, how long a payment takes to clear (including the processor's security review and PayPal eChecks), and why not to pay twice. - [How to list your PayPal subscriptions](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/billing/list-paypal-subscriptions): Find, view, and cancel recurring payments on PayPal. ## Technical questions - [Technical questions: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions): What runs on VPSDime plans, Docker and Docker Swarm, Kubernetes and k3s, Mailcow, swap, FUSE, TUN/TAP for VPNs, NFS, PPP, and disk quotas. - [Can I run Docker on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/docker-on-vps): Yes, out of the box, no tweaks. - [Running Docker Swarm on Linux VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/docker-swarm): Works, use dnsrr endpoint mode instead of the default. - [Kubernetes on VPSDime services](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/kubernetes-on-vps): k3s works on Linux VPS; full k8s wants Premium. - [What is CPU steal time (%st)?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/cpu-steal): Where the metric comes from, reading it properly, and what the values mean. - [What is the IOPS metric, and how does it affect performance?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/what-is-iops): Operations vs bytes vs latency, and why databases care about the one file copies don't. - [How can I limit the CPU an application uses?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/limit-cpu-usage): nice for priority, CPUQuota for hard caps, and when each is right. - [How can I find the biggest folders on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/biggest-folders): du sorted, ncdu, and the drill-down method. - [Can I add swap memory on Linux VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/swap-on-linux-vps): No, and you genuinely don't need it. - [Disk quotas on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/disk-quotas): Supported, set them up as usual. - [How do I set my IP or IPv6 address on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/set-ip-address): You don't, it's automatic. Where the values live, and the Auto-fix network button when a manual edit breaks connectivity. - [Running your own VPN on your VPS (WireGuard)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/wireguard-vpn): The ten-minute personal VPN, phone QR codes, DNS leak checks, and the honest limits. - [Private networking between your VPSes (Tailscale or WireGuard)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/private-networking-between-vpses): Tailscale or plain WireGuard, and binding services to the overlay. - [How can I enable TUN/TAP?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/enable-tun-tap): Enabled by default, run your personal VPN. - [How can I enable FUSE?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/enable-fuse): Enabled by default. - [How can I enable NFS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/enable-nfs): Works, nothing to enable. - [How our SSH brute-force firewall works](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/ssh-bruteforce-firewall): Network-wide detection, why it beats a local fail2ban, and the three-firewalls map. - [Two-factor authentication for SSH (TOTP on Ubuntu/Debian)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/ssh-2fa-totp): Authenticator codes at SSH login, when it's worth it, and the lockout-safe setup. - [How can I change my SSH port?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/change-ssh-port): Safely, in the order that can't lock you out. - [How can I tell which application is using my bandwidth?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/per-app-bandwidth): nethogs, iftop, and vnstat, per process, per connection, per day. - [How can I limit the bandwidth an application uses?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/limit-bandwidth-usage): App flags first, trickle, and interface shaping. - [How can I enable PPP?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/enable-ppp): Enabled by default. - [Can I use Mailcow on Linux VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/mailcow-on-linux-vps): Yes, and read the email policy first. - [Scheduling tasks with cron](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/cron-basics): The crontab format with examples, the habits that keep jobs honest, and the cron cascade that can make a VPS unresponsive, with flock as the guard. - [Using systemd timers instead of cron jobs](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/systemd-timers): Logged runs, no overlaps, catch-up after downtime, the two-file recipe. - [Installing a desktop environment on your VPS (and connecting to it remotely)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/install-desktop-environment): XFCE/LXQt/GNOME, and xRDP vs VNC vs NoMachine vs X2Go. - [How can I install Gitea and host my code on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/install-gitea): The self-hosted GitHub, compose install, SSL, and the backup line. - [How do Linux file permissions work? (And what are attributes?)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/linux-file-permissions): rwx, octal, the special bits, umask, and chattr attributes. - [Process management on Linux: ps, top, kill, and friends](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/process-management): Seeing, finding, stopping, and prioritizing, signals included. - [How can I find files, and text inside files, on Linux?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/find-files-and-text): find and grep -r, plus fd and ripgrep. - [How can I keep an application running after I disconnect from SSH?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/keep-apps-running-after-ssh): tmux, systemd, nohup, by situation. - [How can I encrypt and decrypt files on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/encrypt-files): age and GPG, and encrypting backups before they leave the box. - [What is strace, and how do I make use of it?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/what-is-strace): Watching a program's system calls, hung processes, and mystery configs. ## Troubleshooting - [Troubleshooting: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting): Fixes for the most common VPS problems, restoring SSH access, firewall lockouts, the host identification changed warning, DNS resolution failures inside the VPS, cPanel login blocks, changing the SSH port, and understanding memory usage. - [How to troubleshoot anything on your VPS (and where everything logs)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-method): The method, the question-to-command table, and the log atlas every guide below assumes. - [My IP is blocked. How do I unblock it?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/ip-blocked): The four layers that can block an IP, how to tell which one got you, the fastest unblock for each, and prevention. - [How to restore my SSH access](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/restore-ssh-access): The step-by-step diagnosis: banned IP, your own firewall, or SSH itself. - [Commands to allow SSH access in common firewalls](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/allow-ssh-in-common-firewalls): The exact commands for ufw, CSF, firewalld, iptables, and nft. - [WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/host-identification-changed): Normal after a reinstall, here's the one-line fix. - [cPanel/WHM: root login suddenly fails (cPHulk)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/cpanel-cphulk-login-blocked): cPanel's brute-force protection locking you out of your own server. - [Understanding and troubleshooting network problems](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/network-problems): Whose fault is the lag, yours, ours, or a carrier in between, and how to prove it with mtr. - [Testing your VPS network speed (speedtest CLI, test files, iperf3)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/testing-network-speed): Speedtest CLI, our per-location test files, iperf3, and reading single- vs multi-stream results. - [My Port XXX is closed. Can you open it?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/my-port-xxx-is-closed): Nothing to open, ports show open only when something listens, plus closed vs filtered decoded. - [Bots and crawlers are hammering my website](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/bot-traffic): Identify them in the access log, robots.txt vs rate limiting vs fail2ban vs Cloudflare. - [Emails from my VPS go to spam](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/emails-going-to-spam): Diagnose with mail-tester and MXToolbox, then rDNS, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and reputation. - [My mail server isn't receiving email](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/cannot-receive-email): The inbound chain: MX record, port 25 listener, outside testing, and the mail log. - [My VPS is slow. How do I find out why?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/slow-vps): The systematic walk-through: path vs server, OOM kills, the four CPU hogs, monitoring, and website tuning. - [Fixing 502, 503, and 504 errors on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/502-503-errors): The web server answered, the app behind it didn't, decode the error, read the proxy log, and the Docker cases. - [Fixing SSL certificate errors on your website](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/ssl-certificate-errors): Expired (the day-91 renewal failure), name mismatches, chains, mixed content, and Cloudflare's SSL modes. - [Fixing 403 Forbidden errors on your website](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/403-forbidden): Ownership after uploads, missing index files, deny rules, and why never chmod 777. - [My website didn't come back after a reboot or unsuspension](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/services-not-starting-after-reboot): Started is not enabled, the fix for the post-payment "VPS is up but site is down". - [My VPS was hacked. Recovery, step by step](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/compromised-vps-recovery): Why modern bots survive cleanup, the backup-and-reinstall routine, and how our suspension process works. - [Chrome shows a "Dangerous site" warning on my website](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/chrome-dangerous-site-warning): Google Safe Browsing flags, what was flagged, the cleanup, and the review that lifts it. - [I deleted files by accident. Can they be recovered?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/recover-deleted-files): Stop writes, honest odds, and the real recovery paths through backups. - [MySQL or MariaDB won't start after a crash](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/mysql-wont-start): The safe order: logs, disk, OOM, patient recovery, and force_recovery only to dump and rebuild. - [My cron job didn't run](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/cron-not-running): The empty PATH, the % gotcha, silent failures, and making them noisy. - [Error: Failed to detect code in /var/log/syslog.log or /var/log/messages (lfd)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/lfd-failed-to-detect-code): The rsyslog imjournal bug behind the alert, and the two fixes. - [Temporary failure resolving (DNS errors during updates)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/temporary-failure-resolving): The systemd-resolved fix. - [My disk is full (and it took my website or database down)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/disk-full): The hidden cause behind "my site is offline" and "MySQL won't start", find it, clean it safely, prevent it. - [No space left on device, but df shows free space (out of inodes)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/out-of-inodes): The often-missed inode exhaustion: millions of tiny files, not big ones. - [My VPS is using too much memory. What's wrong?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/vps-using-too-much-memory): It probably isn't, how Linux memory really works. - [Why can't I clear the RAM cache on my VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/troubleshooting/clear-ram-cache): You don't need to, and here's why. ## Windows VPS - [Windows VPS: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps): Guides for your Windows VPS, connecting over RDP from every device, passwords and the troubleshooter, securing the server (firewall, RDP hardening, updates), backups, keeping apps running across reboots, troubleshooting slowness and full disks, hosting on IIS, SSH access, and the nested-virtualization boundary. - [How to connect to my Windows VPS using RDP](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/connect-rdp): The overview, quick steps for every platform. - [How to connect to my Windows VPS from another Windows computer](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/connect-from-windows): [from a Mac](connect-from-mac.md), [from an iPhone or iPad](connect-from-iphone-ipad.md), [from Android](connect-from-android.md). Step-by-step with screenshots. - [How to connect to my Windows VPS from my Mac](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/connect-from-mac): A screenshot walkthrough of connecting to your Windows VPS from macOS with Microsoft's Windows App (formerly Microsoft Remote Desktop), add a PC with your VPS IP and log in as Administrator. - [How to connect to my Windows VPS using an iPhone or iPad](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/connect-from-iphone-ipad): A screenshot walkthrough of connecting to your Windows VPS from iOS/iPadOS with Microsoft's Windows App Mobile (formerly Remote Desktop Mobile), add a PC with your VPS IP and log in as Administrator. - [How can I connect my Windows VPS using an Android phone or device](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/connect-from-android): A screenshot walkthrough of connecting to your Windows VPS from Android (or a Chromebook) with Microsoft's Remote Desktop client, add a PC with your VPS IP and log in as Administrator. - [How many people can connect to my Windows VPS at once?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/rdp-connection-limit): The two-session limit, RDS CALs, and screen-sharing alternatives. - [SSH and PowerShell remoting on your Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/ssh-on-windows): The optional OpenSSH server, for terminal-style management and transfers. - [How to transfer files to and from your Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/transfer-files-windows-vps): RDP clipboard, drive redirection, fetch-on-the-VPS, and SCP, ranked by setup cost. - [RDP feels laggy: resolution, color depth, and performance tuning](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/rdp-performance): Resolution, color depth, Experience presets, and which lag is physics. - [What is my Administrator password?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/administrator-password): Where it comes from, and the whitespace trap. - [My Administrator password doesn't work](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/administrator-password-not-working): The two checks that solve it. - [How can I use the Windows Troubleshooter?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-troubleshooter): Automated power/RDP/password checks with self-service reset. - [The VPSDime Support Account (DIME user)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/vpsdime-support-account): The service user behind password resets, upgrades, and migrations, and what changes if you remove it. - [Securing your Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/securing-your-windows-vps): The layered checklist, and why the firewall matters more here: there's no managed edge firewall on Windows VPS. - [Using Windows Defender Firewall on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-firewall): Open ports for your apps, restrict RDP to your IPs. - [Protecting RDP from brute-force attacks](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/protecting-rdp): NLA, lockout policy, IP restriction, and reading Event 4625. - [How can I change my RDP port?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/change-rdp-port): Lockout-safe, firewall rule first, and the ip:port client syntax. - [Windows Updates on your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-updates): Keep updates on, manage the reboots, and the patch-day slowness explained. - [Backing up a Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/backing-up-windows-vps): The Nightly Backups add-on (restores by ticket), restic on Windows, and SQL Server dumps. - [My app didn't come back after my Windows VPS restarted](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-services-after-reboot): Startup types, the Recovery tab, Task Scheduler, and NSSM. - [How to set up cron jobs on a Windows VPS (Task Scheduler)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/cron-jobs-on-windows): Scheduled scripts that run unattended, with output captured. - [How to view and save the Event Log on your Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/view-save-event-log): The three logs that matter, filtering, and exporting .evtx evidence. - [Hosting a website on your Windows VPS (IIS)](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/hosting-a-website-iis): The Web Server role, bindings, and free auto-renewing SSL with win-acme. - [Connecting to a VPN from your Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/vpn-client-on-windows-vps): Run a VPN client without losing RDP: the default-route trap, the safety net, and per-client split-tunnel settings. - [My Windows VPS is slow. How do I find out why?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-vps-slow): Path vs server, TiWorker and Defender, miners, and RAM honesty. - [My Windows VPS is frozen or unresponsive](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/windows-vps-unresponsive): Memory exhaustion and pagefile thrashing: why nothing responds, the Reset button, and sizing that prevents it. - [Can't RDP into your Windows VPS after joining a domain](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/rdp-after-domain-join): The RD licensing grace period, domain GPO and firewall-profile changes, the .\ local-login syntax, and mstsc /admin. - [How can I monitor resource usage on my Windows VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/monitor-resources-windows): Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Performance Monitor history. - [C: is full on my Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/disk-full-windows): WinDirStat, the sanctioned cleanups, and extending the volume after a plan upgrade. - [I can't download anything in the browser on my Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/cant-download-ie-esc): IE Enhanced Security Configuration, and the package-manager habit. - [Can I run Ubuntu, WSL2, or a Linux VM on my Windows VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/no-linux-vms-on-windows-vps): No nested virtualization, and what works for each goal instead. - [Enabling sound on Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/enabling-sound): Audio is off by default, one service away. - [How to change the time zone in Windows Server 2019](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/change-time-zone-server-2019): The timedate.cpl method. - [How can I change the language of my Windows VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/change-windows-language): Display language vs keyboard layout vs formats, untangled. - [How to find the device name or device ID of a Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/windows-vps/find-device-id): For licensing and activation tools. ## Buying a VPS - [Buying a VPS: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales): Everything you need to choose and order a VPS with confidence, what a VPS is, Linux vs Premium, Windows VPS, how to size and pick one, how to order, the money-back guarantee, and a pre-sales FAQ. - [What is a VPS?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/what-is-a-vps): What a VPS is, how it differs from shared hosting, and the many things you can do with one. - [What is a hostname?](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/what-is-a-hostname): The name a server calls itself, how it differs from a domain name, what an FQDN is, and what to enter when ordering. - [VPS vs shared hosting](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/vps-vs-shared-hosting): Your own isolated server with root access, versus a managed account on a shared server. - [VPS vs cloud server](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/vps-vs-cloud-server): Local NVMe and flat pricing, versus separate storage nodes and metered hourly billing. - [VPS vs dedicated server](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/vps-vs-dedicated-server): A slice you can resize, snapshot, and replace in minutes, versus a whole physical machine. - [VPS vs managed app platforms](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/vps-vs-managed-app-platforms): Running your own server, versus a push-code-and-forget platform (PaaS). - [Managed vs self-managed VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/managed-vs-unmanaged): Who runs the software layer, and why self-managing a server is very doable now. - [Choosing the right VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/choosing-the-right-vps): The four quick decisions: type, size, OS, and datacenter, with a safe default. - [Linux VPS vs Premium VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/linux-vps-vs-premium-vps): Shared vs dedicated resources, and which is right for you. - [Windows VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/windows-vps): What it is, what it's for, and how it works. - [How to choose a VPS plan size](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/choosing-a-vps-plan-size): Sizing RAM, CPU, storage, and traffic by workload. - [How to order a VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/how-to-order-a-vps): The full walkthrough, from picking a plan to a running server. - [My order is under review](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/order-under-review): Every paid order gets a quick human review before activation; first orders and dormant accounts get a closer look. - [My order was flagged by fraud screening](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/order-flagged-as-fraud): The automated checkout screening, the usual triggers (VPN, country mismatch), and how false positives get reviewed. - [Pre-sales FAQ](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/presales/pre-sales-faq): Billing, technical, support, and privacy questions answered. ## Support coverage - [Support coverage: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/support-coverage): What VPSDime support does and doesn't cover on a self-managed VPS, how software help works and when to hire a sysadmin, and what response times to expect from the 24/7 team. - [What support covers](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/support-coverage/what-support-covers): The self-managed model: what's always on us, what's yours with our help, and what isn't offered. - [Software and server management](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/support-coverage/software-and-server-management): "Can you install or fix my software?", what we do instead, and when to hire a sysadmin. - [Response times and priorities](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/support-coverage/response-times-and-priorities): The 24/7 team, typical reply times, and what priority really does. ## Acceptable use - [Acceptable use: overview](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use): What you can run on a VPSDime VPS and what isn't allowed, the email sending policy, how DDoS attacks against your VPS are handled, and what happens if you use up your monthly traffic. - [What you can run, and what isn't allowed](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use/whats-allowed): The allowed and prohibited list, and what happens if a VPS is compromised. - [Sending email from your VPS](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use/email-policy): Low-volume mail is fine, bulk mail is not, and what our monitoring does. - [DDoS attacks and null-routing](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use/ddos-policy): What happens when your VPS is attacked, and what to do if you're a frequent target. - [Security testing, port scanning, and pen testing](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use/security-testing): Authorized testing of your own or consented targets is fine; scanning third parties or us is not. - [Traffic allowance and overages](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/acceptable-use/bandwidth-overage): The warning emails, the 24-hour window, and how suspension and reset work.