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Booting into Rescue Mode

If your Operating System fails to boot, or if you have locked yourself out (e.g., firewall issues or lost SSH keys), you can boot your VPS into Rescue Mode.

How it works:
Rescue Mode boots your server from a Live CD (SystemRescueCD). This allows you to mount your disk partitions to repair configuration files, reset passwords, or backup data before a re-installation.

Quick Steps

  1. Go to VPS > Select your server.
  2. Under 'Tasks', click Start in rescue mode.
  3. Wait for the status to change to Rescue Mode.
  4. Connect via SSH or Video Display to perform repairs.

Step-by-step Guide

  1. Log in to the dashboard and click on VPS in the menu.

  2. Click on the Server ID of the VPS you need to repair.

  3. Scroll down to the Tasks section and click the link Start in rescue mode.

    Click Start in rescue mode

  4. Confirm the reboot.
    Click OK to restart your server into the Live environment.

    Confirm rescue mode

  5. Wait for the status change.
    The server status will change to Rescue Mode. Once this is visible, the server is online and reachable.

    Server status showing Rescue Mode

How to access the server now?

Once the server is in Rescue Mode, you can connect using:

  • SSH: Use your standard root password (or the one provided if a temporary one is generated).
  • Video Display: Use the console in the dashboard.

For documentation on the available tools within the Live CD environment, please visit the official SystemRescueCD website.

Note for FreeBSD / OpenBSD users:
BSD servers do not load SystemRescueCD. Instead, they boot into their respective installation images/live environments, which work slightly differently.