Open a server's console

A server's console is a screen and keyboard attached directly to your server — it's your way in when SSH won't connect. This article is for anyone who needs to reach a server that's gone quiet over the network.

Overview

• The console talks to your server the way a physical monitor and keyboard would, so it works even when nothing on the server is listening on the network.
• Use it when:
  • SSH refuses connections, or you've locked yourself out with a firewall rule.
  • The server won't finish booting.
  • You changed the network configuration and lost the connection.
  • You need to see boot messages or use single-user mode.

Open the console

1. Go to Servers and open the server.
2. Open the actions menu (⋯) and choose Console.
3. InfraNest requests access from your provider and opens the console in a new tab.

You can also open it straight from the Servers list: open the ⋯ menu on a running server's row and choose Console.

Some OVHcloud servers do not offer a console InfraNest can show itself. For those, the new tab opens OVHcloud's own console page instead.

If you'd rather use your own tool, the Console access panel gives you what you need: a WebSocket URL for a browser terminal, or a VNC host, VNC port and password for a VNC client. Each has a Copy button.

Tips

NoteOpening the console is written to the audit log as Console accessed, so your team can see who connected and when.

TipConsole credentials are temporary and expire shortly after you open the console. If the connection drops, request access again rather than reusing an old URL.

Troubleshooting

• A message says the console could not be opened — InfraNest shows the reason your provider gave, and that reason usually says where to go instead. "Failed to request console access" means the provider refused without a reason: check the integration is healthy on the Integrations page, then try again.
• There is no Console item — your provider does not offer a console through its API (DigitalOcean, for example). Open the console from the provider's own control panel.
• The console is blank — the server may be powered off. Power it on and reopen.
• Keyboard input does nothing — select inside the console area first so it takes focus.
• Availability depends on the provider — the console is offered where the provider supports it; on others the menu item won't appear.
• You still need to log in — the console gives you the screen; your normal server login still applies.