Rescue mode

Rescue mode boots the server into a separate rescue system. It's used to access the server when there are problems with the operating system, to recover files, or to reset the root password.

Note on naming

This section is labeled Rescue mode in the menu – you may also see it referred to as recovery mode; both refer to the same feature.

Enabling rescue mode

1. Open the desired server and go to the Rescue mode section.
2. Click Enable rescue mode.
3. Confirm the prompt.

The server is then booted into the rescue system. Access it via the Console button on the server overview.

Note

Disable rescue mode again once you're done, so the server boots normally.

Disabling rescue mode

1. Open the Rescue mode section of the server.
2. Click Disable rescue mode.
3. Confirm the prompt.

Resetting the root password

1. Open the Rescue mode section of the server.
2. Click Reset root password.
3. Confirm the prompt.

Warning

The new password is shown only once in a notification and isn't stored or displayed anywhere else in the customer portal. Write it down immediately in a safe place.

Allowing SSH root login

1. Open the Rescue mode section of the server.
2. Click Allow SSH root login.
3. Confirm the prompt.

Follow-up checks

After enabling rescue mode, check:

• that you can access the server via the console
• that the rescue system started correctly

After disabling it, check:

• that the server boots into the regular operating system again
• that all services run normally after the restart

Common issues

Can't access the server via the console

Possible causes:

• the server isn't running (the console is only available while the server is running)
• rescue mode hasn't been enabled yet

New root password is no longer known

Possible cause:

• the one-time password wasn't written down; in this case, repeat the process to generate a new one