Grab your three secrets
Your provider emailed you (or showed you) exactly three things. Have them in front of you.
Say the magic word
Open PowerShell on your PC and type one line, swapping in your own address.
PS C:\> ssh root@203.0.113.45
The authenticity of host '203.0.113.45' can't be established.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?
yes
root@203.0.113.45's password:
Welcome to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS 🎉
root@my-vps:~#
- 1The "authenticity of host" message only shows up the very first time. Your computer has never met this machine before — it's just double-checking. Type
yes. - 2When it asks for your password, type it and hit Enter — even though nothing shows up on screen. Not even dots. That's normal. It's listening.
- 3See
root@my-vps:~#? That's it. You're in.
What just happened?
Everything you type now happens on the far-away machine, not on your PC. No mouse. No folders to click. Just you and a blinking cursor, talking directly to your VPS.
Try these three — totally harmless, just to feel it out:
whoami
Asks it: "who am I logged in as?" It'll answer: root.
pwd
"Where am I?" Shows which folder you're standing in.
ls
"What's here?" Lists the files in that folder.
Done poking around? Type exit and Enter to leave — you'll land back in your own PowerShell. Reconnecting later is the exact same ssh command, no "yes" this time, since it already knows you.
You just met your VPS. 🤝
Right now, it's wide open — anyone who guesses your password could walk in too. Next: lock the doors.
Next up → Stop 3: Lock the DoorsMy Very First VPS · Stop 2 of 7