How do I rebuild (reinstall) my Smart VPS from an operating system template?

A rebuild wipes your VPS and installs a fresh copy of an operating system from one of our templates. It's the quickest way to start over, switch distributions, or recover from a mess you'd rather not debug. It destroys everything on the VPS's disks, immediately.

What a rebuild does

The portal re-installs your virtual machine from the template you choose and replaces the contents of all of its disks. When it finishes you have a clean server running the OS you picked, with the root password you set. Everything you installed, configured or stored on the old system is gone.

Which template should I pick?

The OS Template list shows what we offer for a Smart VPS:

| Family | Versions | |---|---| | Debian | 13, 12 | | Ubuntu | 26.04, 24.04, 22.04 | | AlmaLinux | 10, 9, 8 | | CloudLinux | 10, 9, 8 | | Fedora | 44, 43 |

If you're not sure, Debian 13 or Ubuntu 24.04 are sensible, widely documented choices. If you plan to run cPanel, choose AlmaLinux 9 or CloudLinux 9.

Before you start

  • This destroys all data on the VPS, and it can't be undone. Copy off anything you want to keep: websites, databases, configs, mail, SSH keys. Put it somewhere that is not this VPS, such as your own computer or another server.
  • A snapshot or backup is a good safety net, but don't count on one being restorable after a rebuild until you've checked. Copy the important files off yourself.
  • Decide on your new root password. The portal fills in a generated one, which you can keep.
  • Keep your own SSH public key handy so you can add it to the fresh system.

Steps

  1. Log in to the portal at https://noc.versaweb.com.
  2. Click Services, then Smart VPS Servers, then click your VPS.
  3. On the Overview tab, click More (the three dots) near the top right, then Rebuild.

The More menu on the Overview tab with Rebuild in the list

  1. On the Re-Install VPS page, choose your OS Template from the dropdown.
  2. Look at the Password box. It's pre-filled with a generated password. Click the eye icon to see it, the arrows icon to generate a different one, or type your own. Write it down now.

The Re-Install VPS page with the OS Template dropdown, the Password field and the Re-Install VPS button

  1. Click Re-Install VPS and confirm if the portal asks you to. The wipe starts immediately.
  2. Wait. The VPS shows a "Server is performing task" banner and a rebuild status while it works. When the banner clears, the new system is ready.

After the rebuild

  1. Log in over SSH as root with the password you set: ssh root@YOUR.IP.ADDRESS.
  2. If SSH warns "REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED": that's expected, because the server is new and has a new host key. Clear the old one on your own computer with ssh-keygen -R YOUR.IP.ADDRESS, then connect again and accept the new key.
  3. Update the system (apt update && apt upgrade on Debian and Ubuntu, dnf upgrade on AlmaLinux, CloudLinux and Fedora).
  4. Check your hostname is what you want. See How do I change the hostname of my Smart VPS?.
  5. Add your SSH keys, restore your files, and reinstall your software.

How to check it worked

  • The VPS shows as running and the Operating System row on the Overview tab names the template you chose.
  • You can log in as root with the new password.

If it didn't work

  • The page won't let you click Re-Install VPS. Check that the VPS isn't already busy with another task (look for the "Server is performing task" banner) and try again once it clears.
  • You can't log in with the new password. Open the console from the portal and check the server booted. See How do I open the console for my Smart VPS?.
  • SSH says "Connection refused" or times out. Give it a few more minutes, then check the console.
  • Still stuck? Open a ticket under Technical Support with your IP address and the template you chose.

Related articles

Was this article helpful?

mood_bad Dislike 0
mood Like 0
visibility Views: 2