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# How do I access my VPS console if SSH isn’t working?

If you're unable to connect to your VPS using SSH - perhaps due to a misconfigured firewall, networking issue, or sshd service failure - you can access your server directly using the built-in **console** feature in the Elitehost Client Area. This provides gives you direct access to your server, similar to plugging a screen and keyboard into a physical machine.

# When should I use the VPS console?

* SSH is not responding or has been disabled
* You’ve blocked your own IP via the firewall
* Network settings were changed and broke connectivity
* The VPS is booting into a recovery or error state

# How to access the console

1. **Log in** to the [Elitehost Client Area](https://my.elitehost.co.za/).
2. Go to **Services** > **My Services**.
3. Find your VPS and click **Manage**.
4. In the left-hand menu, click **Console** under the **Management** section.
5. You’ll be presented with two remote access options: **Xterm.js** or **noVNC**.

### Remote Console Access Options

#### Xterm.js:

* Text-based terminal console (no GUI)
* Fast and lightweight
* Supports copy/paste in most browsers
* Best used for command-line tasks or server recovery
* May not fully support certain OS or graphical boot interfaces

#### noVNC:

* Browser-based VNC viewer for graphical access
* Offers higher compatibility across different operating systems
* Suitable for servers with a GUI or interactive installers
* Slightly slower than Xterm.js and does not support text copy/paste as efficiently

Both console types are pre-configured on our standard Linux VPS images.

###### Tips

* If one option doesn't load or work as expected, try the other.
* The console runs independently of your network setup, so it will work even if SSH or firewall rules are misconfigured.
* You’ll need your root VPS login credentials to log in via the console.

|| The VPS console is your safety net - allowing you to recover or manage your server even when all else fails.