Reinstall an operating system
Reinstalling erases the server’s existing disk contents. It is not an in-place operating-system upgrade.
Before reinstalling​
Export databases, files, application configuration and any keys you need. Store them somewhere outside the VPS and check that you can read them. Record DNS and network settings, and plan downtime.
Start the reinstall​
- Open the server in My servers.
- Find Reinstall OS in the server management controls.
- Choose an available image and review the confirmation.
- Confirm only when your recovery copies are ready.
- Wait for provisioning to complete before logging in with the new access details.
The service keeps its assigned IP addresses, but your previous software and configuration must be restored. A changed SSH host key is expected after reinstalling; verify the new identity before updating your saved key.
For a normal software update, use the package manager inside the guest instead. If you only lost access, try the console and password recovery before reinstalling.