Before You Start

If you are new to a VPS, then the documents and articles in this section should help you with the most common configuration tasks.

You'll need to access your VPS through several means:

- Web Host Manager (WHM) - This is the mack-daddy control panel that gives your administrative access to your server. You can add user accounts, suspend users, upgrade users, configure a lot of your server, and do just about everything you usually need to do with a server.

- SSH - This is what the Pros use. The WHM interface integrates a lot of tasks and makes the whole thing easier and less tedious. But sometimes, you simply need to roll up your sleeves and talk to the server on it's own terms: the command line. Using an SSH client program will give you secure access to your server, and some things simply must be done through this means.

If you are on a Macintosh (OS X) or a Linux/Unix machine, you have an ssh program built-in. Just open a command window and type:

(replace "myserver" with your server's hostname or IP address)

If you are running Windows, you can download the free PuTTY program∞.


Also, keep in mind that the VPS servers are not monitored or managed by A Small Orange. We monitor the underlying hardware, but because of the customizable nature of VPSes we can't keep track of every configuration. Feel free to send in a support ticket∞ if you need help and we'll do what we can.

We want your experience with a VPS to be a good one. If you have any suggestions, please send them to info@asmallorange.com to my attention.

--Andrew Boring, Director of Customer Relations


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