What's installed on your Ubuntu server?
- The Ubuntu LTS release you pick: 26.04, 24.04 or 22.04, from Canonical's official image
- OpenSSH with root password login on; add an SSH key from your panel whenever you like
- unattended-upgrades, which installs security updates once a day
- AppArmor on; ufw installed but off, so firewall rules are up to you
- cloud-init, which sets the IP, hostname and password at first boot and grows the file system to fit your disk
- QEMU guest agent, which the panel uses to write extra IPs and the keyboard layout
- Python 3, curl, wget, vim and snap, ready to use
- No web server, database or control panel: you install what you need with apt
What size do you need for Ubuntu?
Ubuntu's documentation lists 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of disk as the minimum for cloud images, and suggests 3 GB of RAM and 25 GB of disk for real use. In our tests, a clean Ubuntu took 2.4 to 3 GB of disk depending on the release. A small service can start on 1 GB. For a website, a database or Docker, look at 4 GB, and for several apps side by side, 8 GB. These are rules of thumb, and your software decides what you really need. If it isn't enough, scale up from your panel and your data and IP stay the same.
| 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?
- First-time server owners, since many guides are written with Ubuntu commands
- Developers deploying Node.js, Python, PHP or Docker apps
- Teams whose software documentation asks for Ubuntu LTS
- Anyone who wants to stay on one release with five years of standard maintenance
What happens after you order?
- Pick the release, set the size and complete your payment.
- Your server starts. In your panel, open it from My servers, and the Overview tab shows the IP Address, Username and Password rows.
- Open a terminal on your computer, type ssh root@your-ip and paste the password. Use PowerShell on Windows and Terminal on macOS or Linux.
- Run apt update and apt upgrade first. If the kernel was updated, restart the server.
- To turn on the firewall, run ufw allow 22 first, then ufw enable. Then install 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
- Standard security maintenance ends in May 2027 for 22.04, May 2029 for 24.04 and May 2031 for 26.04. On a new server, pick 22.04 only if older software requires it.
- Automatic updates don't restart the server by default. A kernel update takes effect after you reboot, and the file /var/run/reboot-required tells you when one is due.
- A clean system doesn't include fail2ban, and SSH on the open internet gets password guessing. Adding an SSH key and turning off password login is a good first step.
- If you harden your SSH settings, adding a key or resetting the password from the panel won't undo them.
- Switching releases from the panel means a reinstall: everything on the disk is deleted and the IP stays. To keep your data, upgrade with do-release-upgrade instead.
Ubuntu questions and answers
Which Ubuntu version should I choose for a VPS?
For a new server, choose 26.04 or 24.04 LTS. If your software's documentation names a release, follow it, because some software takes a while to support a new LTS. Standard maintenance for 22.04 ends in May 2027.
How much RAM does an Ubuntu server need?
Canonical lists 1 GB as the minimum for cloud images and suggests 3 GB or more. A small service runs on 1 GB, and 4 GB is a good start for a website, a database or Docker. You can scale up from your panel later.
How do I connect to my Ubuntu VPS?
Take the IP address and password from the Overview tab, then run ssh root@your-ip in a terminal. If SSH isn't reachable, the VNC Console tool on the Management tab gets you in from your browser.
Can I upgrade Ubuntu 24.04 to 26.04?
Yes. Canonical recommends the do-release-upgrade command, moving one LTS at a time: 22.04 to 24.04, then 24.04 to 26.04. Check your backups in the panel before you start. Reinstalling from the panel is different, because it deletes all your data.
Do I need Ubuntu Pro?
No. Every LTS release gets five years of standard security maintenance with nothing extra to do. Ubuntu Pro extends that to ten years and covers the Universe repository too. It isn't included in the Seturack price, and Canonical sets its terms.
Should I choose Ubuntu or Debian?
If you're not sure, start with Ubuntu, since many guides assume it. Debian is plainer, without snap or ufw. In our tests a clean Debian took about 1 GB of disk and a clean Ubuntu 2.4 to 3 GB. Most commands work the same on both.