Root password

Note

Choose a strong, unique password for the root account. A dedicated server is directly reachable from the internet, so a weak or reused password is a significant risk.

Setting the password during install

Your root password is set in the Reinstall OS form. Enter it in the Root Password field — it must be at least 8 characters.

The password is applied to the root account during installation and is active as soon as the server boots.

Changing the password on a running server

To change the root password without reinstalling:

1. Log in to the server via SSH or the console.
2. Run:

passwd

3. Enter and confirm your new password when prompted.

The change takes effect immediately — no reboot required.

If you’ve forgotten the password

If you no longer know the root password and cannot log in via SSH key either, your options are:

• Reinstall the OS — sets a new root password of your choosing. This erases all data on the server. See Install / reinstall your OS.
• Use the console with rescue mode — boot a rescue image from the Reinstall OS form, mount your disk read-write, and use chroot + passwd to reset the password without reinstalling (advanced).