This guide helps you troubleshoot SSH connection problems to a GARMTECH VPS (Linux or Windows with OpenSSH enabled).
1) Confirm the basics
- Correct IP address: check your VPS IP in My.GARMTECH → your VPS service.
- Correct port: default SSH port is 22 (unless you changed it).
- Correct username: often root for Linux, or the user provided in your VPS credentials.
2) Check whether the server is reachable
- Ping test:
ping VPS_IP (ping may be blocked by firewall, so failure is not always conclusive).
- Port test:
- macOS/Linux:
nc -vz VPS_IP 22
- Windows (PowerShell):
Test-NetConnection VPS_IP -Port 22
If the port is closed or times out, the issue is usually a firewall block or the SSH service is not running.
3) Verify VPS firewall rules
- Make sure port 22 is allowed in your VPS firewall/security settings.
- If you changed SSH to another port, allow that port instead.
- If you recently “hardened” the firewall, double-check that your own IP is not blocked.
4) Check the SSH service inside the VPS (Linux)
If you have console access (or another working access method), check:
sudo systemctl status ssh or sudo systemctl status sshd- Start/restart:
sudo systemctl restart ssh (or sshd)
- Verify it is listening:
sudo ss -tulpn | grep :22
5) Fix authentication errors
Common error messages:
- Permission denied (publickey) → the server requires an SSH key, or your key is not accepted.
- Permission denied (password) → wrong username/password, or password login is disabled.
Helpful tips:
- Try verbose mode to see details:
ssh -v user@VPS_IP
- Make sure you are using the correct private key file (and correct user).
- If you recently changed SSH settings, confirm they are correct in
/etc/ssh/sshd_config (Linux) and restart SSH.
6) If your VPS is Windows
- SSH may be disabled by default. The primary access method is usually RDP.
- If you enabled OpenSSH, verify Windows Firewall allows the SSH port.
If you are locked out and cannot access the server at all, you may need to use the recovery options described in your VPS management tools (for example, password reset or OS reinstall).
