Connect a server

This guide walks you through connecting an existing VPS or dedicated server so strackt can manage it. Once connected, your server is ready to receive applications.

Before you start: you need SSH access to a server you own or rent. The server must be running Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, CentOS, Rocky Linux, Alma Linux, or an existing managed install.

Important: connecting a server replaces its operating system entirely. Any existing applications, data, and configuration on the server will be gone. Use a fresh server or one you are prepared to wipe.

What you need

• SSH access to the server as root with a password, or as another user with sudo access (strackt will set up root access automatically if it is not already available)
• Port 22 open and reachable from the internet
• Outbound internet access from the server so packages can be downloaded
• At least 1 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk
• An x86_64 or arm64 CPU

If your hosting provider has a separate firewall or security group, disable it temporarily for the connection — you can re-enable it once the server is running.

1. Add the server

Open Servers in the left sidebar, then click Connect a server.

Enter your server's IP address or hostname, the SSH port (22 is the default), and the credentials strackt should use to connect. If you only have a non-root user with sudo access, enter those credentials — strackt will prepare root access and then remove your credentials from the system immediately after.

Click Validate to confirm strackt can reach the server.

2. Watch the connection process

Once validation passes, strackt begins the connection process. You will see a live progress view with the current step.

The process works through these stages in order:

1. Validating — confirms SSH connectivity and checks system requirements
2. Generating — builds a custom configuration for your server's hardware
3. Adopting — installs the managed operating system
4. Configuring — applies the initial configuration and restarts services

The full process typically takes 5–10 minutes depending on your server and network speed.

If anything goes wrong, the progress view will show what failed. Fix the underlying issue — usually a firewall rule or a typo in the credentials — and try again.

3. Server is connected

When the status shows Fresh, your server is connected and managed by strackt. Your original credentials are no longer stored.

From here, strackt handles OS updates, security patches, and configuration changes automatically. You own the server; strackt handles the rest.

What's next

• Add and deploy an application to put your server to work