# Set up your cloud server
Source: https://docs.webgee.com/en/servers/cloud-server-quick-start





















Get a newly ordered WebGee cloud server from empty to running an operating
system. Applies to all cloud server plans.

The whole process runs from the Cloud Console and takes a couple of minutes.

## Open the Cloud Console [#open-the-cloud-console]

1. Sign in to the [WebGee client area](https://my.webgee.com).

2. Select **Services**.

   <img alt="The Services tab in the WebGee client area" src="__img0" />

3. Under **My Products & Services**, select your cloud server.

   <img alt="The product list with a cloud server selected" src="__img1" />

4. Under **Manage**, select **Open Cloud Console**.

   <img alt="The Manage section showing the Open Cloud Console button" src="__img2" />

## Configure the server [#configure-the-server]

1. Set the **Server Name**, **Server Hostname** and **Server Timezone**.

   <img alt="The general configuration form" src="__img3" />

   Use a fully qualified hostname such as `server1.example.com`. Mail software in
   particular behaves badly with a bare hostname, and changing it later means
   reissuing certificates.

2. Choose an **operating system** from the templates.

   <img alt="The operating system template list" src="__img4" />

3. Optionally add an **SSH key**.

   <img alt="The SSH key selection step" src="__img5" />

   <Callout type="info">
     Adding a key here is worth the extra minute. Without one, the root password
     is emailed to you in plain text — change it immediately on first login if
     you go that route. See
     [Connect over SSH](/en/development/connect-via-ssh) for how to generate a key.
   </Callout>

4. Select **Install**, then confirm.

   <img alt="The installation confirmation prompt" src="__img6" />

Installation usually completes in under 20 seconds.

<img alt="The setup progress screen" src="__img7" />

When it finishes you are taken to the server dashboard.

<img alt="The cloud server dashboard" src="__img8" />

## Check it worked [#check-it-worked]

Connect over SSH using the server's IP address, shown on the dashboard:

```bash
ssh root@203.0.113.10
```

If you added an SSH key you are let straight in. Otherwise use the root password
from the email.

## First things to do [#first-things-to-do]

1. **Change the root password** if one was emailed to you.
2. **Update the system** — `apt update && apt upgrade` on Debian or Ubuntu,
   `dnf upgrade` on AlmaLinux or Rocky.
3. **Set up reverse DNS** if the server will send email, or your messages will be
   filtered as spam.

## If you cannot connect [#if-you-cannot-connect]

* **Connection times out** — installation may still be finishing. Check the
  dashboard.
* **Permission denied** — the wrong key, or the password email has not arrived
  yet. Check your spam folder.
* **You are locked out entirely** — reset the root password from the Cloud
  Console: [Reset the root password](/en/servers/how-to-reset-root-password-from-webgee-cloud-console).

## Next steps [#next-steps]

This gets the server running. Everything after that lives in the Cloud Console:

* [The WebGee Cloud Console](/en/servers/cloud-console) — where to find it and
  what it does
* [Add an SSH key](/en/servers/ssh-keys) — so you stop using passwords
* [Networking and reverse DNS](/en/servers/server-networking) — **set reverse DNS
  before sending any email**
* [Back up your server](/en/servers/server-backups) — before you need it

## Related [#related]

* [Reset the root password from the Cloud Console](/en/servers/how-to-reset-root-password-from-webgee-cloud-console)
* [What is included with VPS and cloud server management?](/en/servers/vps-cloud-server-management-whats-included)
* [Rescue mode and VNC](/en/servers/rescue-mode-and-vnc)