How to rescue your server with the VNC console (recovery) | ComputeBox
VPS & Server
How to rescue your server with the VNC console
Locked out of your server via SSH? The VNC console in the panel gives you a screen-level connection in the browser so you can fix the problem directly.
A wrong firewall rule, a typo in the SSH configuration, a self-ban by Fail2ban: there are many ways to lock yourself out of your own server. The good news is that you are never truly locked out. The VNC console in the panel gives you a screen-level connection right in the browser, independent of SSH and the firewall. This guide shows how to get in and fix common problems.
7 minBeginnerTested on ComputeBox panelUpdated 2026-06-17
In short
Open the VNC Console tab in the panel, log in with the computebox user and password, then fix the problem with sudo.
At the VNC console you log in with a username and password, not with your SSH key. If you only work with a key and have not set a password yet, do so while you still have normal access:
How this fits into the first steps is covered in Connect to your server via SSH. Without a password, a reinstall is your only option in an emergency.
Open the VNC Console tab in the panel and click Open VNC Console. Your server's screen opens directly in the browser, as if you were sitting in front of it. If the screen stays black, click into it or press a key, it is just in sleep mode.
If the server is completely stuck, the Power Control tab helps. A normal Restart requires the running QEMU guest agent. If the VM does not respond to it, use Force Stop.
Force Stop can cost data
Force Stop pulls the plug on the VM hard, without a clean shutdown. It works even without the guest agent, but it can cause data loss. Use it only as a last resort, then start the server again.
If the problem cannot be fixed, the Templates & ISOs tab gets you back to a clean system through a reinstall. This erases all data, so only do it if you have a backup or have nothing to lose.
No. The console runs directly in the browser, you do not need an additional client.
Why can I get in via VNC but not via SSH?
The VNC console is a direct screen-level connection to the VM, independent of the firewall, Fail2ban, and the SSH service. Even when those block network access, the console stays reachable.
What if I do not know the password?
Then you cannot get past the console. That is why you should set a password early with sudo passwd computebox. Without one, a reinstall is the only option.
