What's installed on your Debian server?
- The Debian release you pick: 13 (trixie) or 12 (bookworm), from Debian's official genericcloud image
- The cloud kernel, a smaller kernel with fewer hardware drivers, built for virtual machines
- OpenSSH: log in as root with the password, or add a key from your panel
- apt, sudo, curl, wget, vim and nano ready to use; snap and ufw aren't installed
- The unattended-upgrades and AppArmor packages, both in the image
- cloud-init sets the IP and password and grows the disk; the QEMU guest agent installs at first boot
- No web server, database or control panel: you add what you need with apt
What size do you need for Debian?
Debian's installation guide lists 512 MB of RAM as the minimum without a desktop, with 1 GB recommended and 4 GB of disk. It also says it's nearly impossible to give general figures for servers, because they depend on the job. In our tests a clean Debian took about 1 GB of disk. Start with 1 GB for a small service, 4 GB for a website with a database, and 8 GB for heavier work. RAM and CPU can go up or down later, but the disk only grows, so keep it small at first.
| Use | Size | Price | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 GB RAM · 1 vCore · 25 GB NVMe | $2.58/mo | |
| Medium | 4 GB RAM · 2 vCore · 60 GB NVMe | $6.89/mo | |
| Powerful | 8 GB RAM · 4 vCore · 120 GB NVMe | $13.62/mo |
Who is it for?
- Admins who want a plain base with only what they install
- Anyone happy to stay on one major release for years and just take security patches
- Teams that manage packages with apt alone and don't want snap
- Small services on 1 GB of RAM, such as a web server, VPN or DNS
What happens after you order?
- Pick Debian 13 or 12, set the size and complete your payment.
- Your server starts. Open it from My servers in your panel, and the Overview tab shows the IP Address, Username and Password rows.
- In a terminal, type ssh root@your-ip and paste the password.
- Refresh the package list with apt update, then bring the system up to date with apt upgrade.
- For a firewall, use the Firewall Rules tool in your panel or install one with apt install ufw. Then add your software.
With every server
- Daily backups included in the price
- Unlimited traffic
- Full root access
- Scale RAM and CPU up or down later, and grow the disk
- Location: Istanbul · IST-1.
Good to know
- Debian 12 left full support in July 2026 and is looked after by the LTS team until June 2028. Debian 13 has full support until August 2028 and LTS until June 2030. For a new server, choose 13.
- Package versions mostly stay fixed during a stable release, and security fixes are backported. If you need a newer version, use the project's own repository or Docker.
- unattended-upgrades is in the image, but don't assume it's doing what you want. The files under /etc/apt/apt.conf.d show how it's set up.
- The system doesn't include fail2ban, and SSH on the open internet gets password guessing. Add an SSH key and turn off password login first.
- Switching releases from the panel is a reinstall and deletes all your data. To move from 12 to 13 and keep it, follow the upgrade steps in Debian's release notes.
Debian questions and answers
Should I choose Debian 13 or Debian 12?
Choose Debian 13 for a new server. Debian 12 is now in its LTS period: it left full support in July 2026 and maintenance ends in June 2028. Use 12 only if your software requires it.
How much RAM does a Debian server need?
Debian's guide lists 512 MB as the minimum without a desktop and recommends 1 GB. Seturack's smallest size is 1 GB, which is enough for a small service. As a rule of thumb, a website with a database starts at 4 GB.
What's the difference between Debian and Ubuntu?
Both use apt and most commands match. The Debian image is plainer, without snap or ufw, and took about 1 GB of disk in our tests. Ubuntu has more tools in place from the start, and many guides assume it.
Can I install Docker on Debian?
Yes. Docker's official install guide supports Debian 13 and 12, and with root access you install it from Docker's own repository. If you'd rather skip that, look at the server with Docker pre-installed.
How do I upgrade Debian 12 to 13?
Follow the steps in Debian's release notes: point your package sources at trixie, then upgrade with apt. Check your backups first. The panel's reinstall tool is a different thing, because it wipes the disk.
How do I connect to my Debian VPS?
The Overview tab in your panel shows the IP address, username and password. Run ssh root@your-ip in a terminal. PowerShell on Windows is enough, so you don't need a separate program.