SSH Keys
When you provision a server, ServerPlane generates a unique SSH key pair and installs the public key on the server. The private key is stored encrypted in ServerPlane and is used for all platform operations — deployments, configuration changes, and monitoring.
You can download or email this private key at any time from the dashboard. This is useful when you want to SSH into the server manually from a new machine or keep a backup of the key.
Downloading Your SSH Key
- Navigate to Servers and select your server.
- Open the Settings tab.
- In the SSH Access section, click Download SSH Key.
- Your browser will download a
.pemfile namedserverplane-{server-name}.pem.
Emailing Your SSH Key
- Navigate to Servers and select your server.
- Open the Settings tab.
- In the SSH Access section, click Email to {your-email}.
- The private key will be sent as an attachment to your account email address.
The email includes the SSH connection command for quick reference.
Using the Key
Once you have the .pem file, set the correct permissions and connect:
chmod 600 serverplane-myserver.pem
ssh -i serverplane-myserver.pem -p 22 serverplane@YOUR_SERVER_IP
Replace 22 with your server's SSH port and YOUR_SERVER_IP with the actual IP address (both shown on the Settings tab under Server Information).
For running application commands after connecting, see SSH Access & File Permissions.
SSH Key During Server Deletion
When you delete a server, ServerPlane offers three options for continued server access:
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Re-enable password SSH | Password authentication is turned back on. You will need to set a root password via your hosting provider's console. |
| Download SSH key | The private key is downloaded to your browser before the server record is deleted. |
| Email SSH key | The private key is emailed to you before the server record is deleted. |
After deletion, the key is permanently removed from ServerPlane and cannot be retrieved. If you think you may need the key later, download or email it before deleting.
Security Considerations
- Store keys securely. The private key grants full access to your server. Do not commit it to version control or share it over unencrypted channels.
- File permissions matter. SSH clients reject key files with overly permissive access. Always
chmod 600your.pemfile. - One key per server. Each server gets its own unique key pair. Downloading the key for one server does not grant access to other servers.
- Password auth is disabled. During provisioning, ServerPlane disables password-based SSH login. If you lose the key after deleting the server from ServerPlane, you will need to use your hosting provider's console or recovery tools to regain access.