First steps after your dedicated server is delivered: a checklist

Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: Self-managed dedicated servers with Ubuntu, Debian or AlmaLinux

A self-managed dedicated server is delivered with full root access, and from that moment you are responsible for the operating system and the applications on it. Spend the first 30 minutes on this checklist. It secures the server, confirms that everything you ordered (disks, IP addresses, network) is really there, and gives you a clean starting point for any use: websites, applications, virtual machines, databases or mail.

Before you start

• Find your server details (IP address, login and operating system) in the delivery email and in the client area under Services › My Services. If you did not get the email, see I have not received my account Information email.
• You need an SSH client (Terminal on macOS and Linux, PowerShell or PuTTY on Windows). For Windows Server, use Remote Desktop instead.

1. Log in and change the root password

1. Connect: ssh root@YOUR-SERVER-IP
2. Set a new long password: passwd

2. Update the system

apt update && apt upgrade -y        # Ubuntu / Debian
dnf upgrade -y                       # AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux

If a new kernel was installed, restart once with reboot and log in again.

3. Create your own administrator user with an SSH key

1. On your computer create a key if you have none: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 (see How to generate SSH keys in Linux?).
2. On the server create the user and give it administrator rights:

   adduser admin1
   usermod -aG sudo admin1          # Ubuntu / Debian
   usermod -aG wheel admin1         # AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux

3. From your computer copy the key: ssh-copy-id admin1@YOUR-SERVER-IP, then log in as that user and check that sudo whoami answers root. More about keys: How to set up SSH keys for authentication?.
4. Only after you have tested the key login, you may turn off password login for SSH by setting PasswordAuthentication no in /etc/ssh/sshd_config and running systemctl restart ssh (on AlmaLinux systemctl restart sshd). Keep a second SSH session open while you test.

4. Turn on a firewall

ufw allow OpenSSH
ufw enable
ufw status

On AlmaLinux use firewalld (firewall-cmd --list-all). Open ports only for services you really run.

5. Check the hardware and the disks

lsblk
cat /proc/mdstat            # shows software RAID, if you have it
df -h
free -h
lscpu | head -20

Compare the disk sizes, RAM and CPU with your order. For software RAID, cat /proc/mdstat should show all disks as [UU]. If something does not match, open a support ticket at once.

6. Check the network and your IP addresses

ip -br address
ip route
hostname -f

You should see your main IP address and the gateway. Depending on your plan you have 1 usable IPv4 address or, on some plans, 5 (a /29 block); your plan description and delivery message show which. How blocks work and how to add more addresses is explained in How many IP addresses come with a dedicated server and what do additional subnets cost?. Set a proper host name with hostnamectl set-hostname server1.example.com and reverse DNS for your main IP (How to set reverse DNS (PTR) for many IP addresses and check forward-confirmed rDNS?).

7. Know how to reach the server when SSH fails

Dedicated servers have an out-of-band management console (IPMI). Read How to get started with Console Redirection of an out-of-band-management? and How to install an Operating System (OS) using IPMI? now, before you need them, and check that you can open the console.

8. Basic housekeeping

• Set the time zone: timedatectl set-timezone Asia/Kolkata (use your own) and make sure timedatectl shows System clock synchronized: yes.
• Install automatic security updates on Ubuntu: apt install -y unattended-upgrades.
• Plan backups. Backups are not included by default, so keep tested copies of your data elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

Who looks after the operating system?
On an unmanaged dedicated server you do. Every Ucartz server includes Free Basic Managed Support for quick tasks (best effort), and our engineers can do bigger jobs on request, by the task, the hour or the month.

Can I reinstall the operating system?
Yes, with the IPMI console (How to install an Operating System (OS) using IPMI?) or by asking support.

Need a dedicated server, more IP addresses, or a hand with the setup?

• Unmanaged dedicated servers: full root access and IPv4 subnets from /29 up to /24, ordered with the server or added later.
• Managed dedicated servers: our team looks after the operating system, updates, security and monitoring.
• Dedicated server locations: choose the country and data centre when you order.

Prefer a hand with the setup? Our engineers can do it for you: Hire an Expert, or use our on-demand server management.