First login

The first time you connect, SSH shows the server's fingerprint and asks if you trust it. You check that fingerprint against one you read through hPanel, which you already trust. After that, your laptop remembers the server and warns you if it ever changes.

Open the web console

In the VPS overview, click Web console. Your browser may block the pop-up. Allow it, and a terminal opens, logged in as root.

Run these two commands:

herdr --version
# herdr 0.9.1

ssh-keygen -lf /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key.pub
# 256 SHA256:<fingerprint> root@<hostname> (ED25519)

The second line is the server's own fingerprint. Keep this tab open.

Connect from your laptop

Replace <VPS_IPV4> with the address from the overview.

ssh -o IdentitiesOnly=yes -i ~/.ssh/hostinger-herdr root@<VPS_IPV4>
# ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:<fingerprint>.
# Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?

Compare the fingerprint with the web console. Type yes only if they match, then enter your key passphrase.

Save a shortcut

Add this block to ~/.ssh/config so you can type ssh agent-cloud instead of the full command. On Windows the file is $HOME/.ssh/config. Keep any other hosts that are already in the file.

Open the .ssh folder in Finder or Explorer. The command creates an empty config file first if you do not have one yet.

touch ~/.ssh/config
open ~/.ssh

Right-click the file config and open it with your code editor, such as Visual Studio Code. On macOS choose Open With, on Windows choose Open with, then Choose another app. Paste the block and save.

Host agent-cloud
  HostName <VPS_IPV4>
  User root
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/hostinger-herdr
  IdentitiesOnly yes
  ForwardAgent no
  ServerAliveInterval 30

User root is temporary. On the next page you create a daily user and change this line.

Check

ssh agent-cloud
whoami
# root