Vultr Web Console FAQ
Introduction
The Vultr web console is similar to sitting in front of a physical machine when network access is not possible. All major browsers support the web console, but it is not a full replacement for SSH or Remote Desktop clients. The web console is useful for server troubleshooting, credential resets, network configuration, and quickly checking the VPS state.
How to Access the Web Console
- Navigate to your Customer Portal.
- Click Products
- Click on your instance.
Click the View Console icon in the upper-right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the console support copy and paste?
Yes! We've added clipboard support the the web console. Look for the Send Clipboard button in the upper right. This feature is supported by all major browsers.
While typing my password, no characters appear.
Characters are not echoed to the screen when entering passwords on Linux and Unix servers. This behavior also occurs with native SSH clients.
My password does not work.
If you do not have a US keyboard, you may see incorrect characters while typing or have trouble with your password. The web console expects a US keyboard and an English layout. When using the web console, temporarily install a US keyboard or switch your input language to English and then use the on-screen keyboard.
My console will not open, I can't log in.
A blue screen with the Vultr logo indicates that the server is not running. Please reboot your server and try again.
If you see a gray screen with the Server disconnected message, you should restart your server.
You may see a completely black screen. Try pressing ENTER a few times to wake up the server. You may have something running on the console that has blanked the screen. You can also try CTRL + C to interrupt the server.
If a reboot doesn't resolve the issue:
- Ping the server by IP address to be sure it's running.
- Run an MTR report.
- Open a ticket to have your server rebooted. Include the ping and MTR results.
The web console doesn't work on my mobile device.
The web console has known issues with mobile devices, even if using an external keyboard. For example, the iPad space bar doesn't work correctly. Please try a desktop computer and browser.
Can I change the screen resolution?
The web console screen resolution is limited. You should use a remote desktop client on Windows to get the highest display settings and better performance. Likewise, a native SSH client will also work better.
What are my alternatives to the web console?
The web console is meant for diagnostic and recovery tasks when the VPS is not available through the network. A native SSH client or a remote desktop client for Windows are better options. These methods provide full features like copy/paste and international keyboard support.
SSH Clients
Windows users can access SSH through PowerShell or cmd.exe. Linux and macOS users can access SSH through the terminal.
C:\> ssh root@vps.example.com
For GUI access to SSH, we recommend:
- PuTTY for Windows
- iTerm2 for macOS
- Termius for iOS and Android
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Clients
Microsoft Remote Desktop is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Remmina and Xrdp are two popular options for Linux users.
Conclusion
The Vultr Web Console is a tool for basic tasks, limited by the browser capabilities of HTML5 and JavaScript. It is not a replacement for native applications in daily use.