Welcome to SakuraHost! Your new VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a powerful, isolated environment that gives you full root access and complete control over your hosting infrastructure. This guide walks you through the essential first steps to get your server production-ready.
1. Connecting to Your VPS for the First Time
Every SakuraHost VPS ships with SSH access enabled by default. SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard protocol for securely managing remote servers. Depending on your operating system, you have several options for connecting.
From macOS or Linux
Open your terminal and run:
Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with the IP address provided in your welcome email. You will be prompted to accept the server's fingerprint on first connection - type yes and press Enter, then provide your root password.
From Windows
Windows 10 and later include OpenSSH by default. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and use the same command above. Alternatively, you can use PuTTY, a popular GUI-based SSH client.
2. Updating Your System Packages
Your first action on any new server should be updating all installed packages to their latest versions. This ensures you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.
This process may take a few minutes depending on how many updates are available. If prompted about configuration file changes, the default option is usually safe for new servers.
3. Creating a Non-Root User
Running everything as root is a significant security risk. Best practice is to create a dedicated user account with sudo privileges for daily administration tasks.
You will be prompted to set a password and optional profile information. Choose a strong, unique password. You can now log in as this user with ssh sakura@YOUR_SERVER_IP.
4. Setting the Hostname and Timezone
A descriptive hostname helps you identify your server, especially if you manage multiple VPS instances.
Set your timezone to match your primary user base. For East Africa:
Verify with timedatectl to confirm the timezone is correctly applied.
5. Configuring a Basic Firewall
Ubuntu's UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) provides a straightforward interface for managing firewall rules. Enable it with only the services you need exposed.
6. Enabling Automatic Security Updates
Unattended upgrades automatically install critical security patches, reducing your exposure window to known vulnerabilities.
Select "Yes" when prompted to enable automatic updates. The system will check for and install security updates daily.
7. Next Steps
With your initial setup complete, your SakuraHost VPS is ready for production workloads. Here are recommended next steps:
- Harden SSH access - Set up SSH keys and disable password authentication. See our guide: How to Secure Your VPS: SSH Keys, Firewall, and Fail2ban.
- Install a web server - Deploy Nginx or Apache for hosting websites. Read Installing and Configuring Nginx on Your SakuraHost VPS.
- Set up SSL - Encrypt your traffic with Let's Encrypt. Check How to Set Up Let's Encrypt SSL on Your VPS.
- Monitor performance - Keep an eye on resource usage. See VPS Performance Monitoring: Tools and Best Practices.