How to order a RackNerd VPS, step by step

Ordering a RackNerd VPS takes about ten minutes, but a few choices on the order page are hard or impossible to change afterwards: the location, the billing cycle and, because refunds are not given by default, the plan itself. This guide walks through every step, from picking a plan to your first login, and explains what to do if an order gets stuck.

Order pages change from time to time, so the exact wording on screen may differ a little from this guide. The choices you make are the same.

What is in this guide

• Before you order
• 1. Pick the plan
• 2. Check the plan details
• 3. Choose the billing cycle
• 4. Choose the location
• 5. Choose the operating system and hostname
• 6. Review the cart
• 7. Create your account
• 8. Pay
• 9. Wait for activation
• 10. Log in and secure the server
• If your order gets stuck
• After you order
• Troubleshooting
• Limits
• When to step up

Before you order

Decide three things first. It makes the order quick and avoids the most common regret.

Decide	Why	Help
What the server is for	It sets the size you need	1 GB, 2 GB and 4 GB guides
Where it should be	Location is hard to change later	RackNerd data centre locations
Your budget for the year	Many deals are billed yearly up front	Is a yearly VPS deal worth it?

Also check you actually need a VPS. If you only want one simple website and email, shared hosting is easier. See shared hosting or a VPS.

1. Pick the plan

RackNerd sells regular plans and special offers. The specials, including seasonal sale plans, are usually the best value. You can find plans three ways:

• The live lists on this site, which show current prices, specs and stock. Use the filters for type, location and memory.
• The sales page during Black Friday, 11.11 and flash sales.
• RackNerd's own specials page.

When you find a plan, follow its "View at RackNerd" link to the order page.

2. Check the plan details

On the order page, read the description carefully. These lines matter most:

Line	What to check
RAM and CPU	Enough for your job, with some room to spare
Disk	Room for the system, your apps, logs and data
Bandwidth	The monthly transfer allowance
IP addresses	How many IPv4 addresses, and whether IPv6 is included or available on request
Renewal	Words such as "recurring" or "lifetime" mean it renews at the same price. RackNerd describes its special VPS plans this way
Locations	Which data centres this plan can be deployed in

How to read VPS specs explains each spec.

3. Choose the billing cycle

Special plans are usually yearly only. Regular plans may offer monthly, quarterly or longer cycles. Pick the one shown for the deal you want, and remember that RackNerd's terms say refunds are not given by default once you pay. If you only want to try a VPS for a few weeks, a monthly plan is safer than a year you might not use.

4. Choose the location

Pick the data centre nearest to you or your users, from the list the plan offers. Moving a server to another location later usually means a new server and moving your data yourself, so take a moment here. Have a second choice in mind in case your first is out of stock. RackNerd data centre locations explains each one and how to test them.

5. Choose the operating system and hostname

• Operating system. If you are unsure, choose the latest Ubuntu LTS release offered. Most guides, including those on this site, are written for it. See which Linux distribution to pick. You can reinstall a different system later from the control panel, but reinstalling erases the server.
• Hostname. A name for the server, such as vps1.example.com. Any sensible name works, and you can change it later.
• Other fields. If the form asks for anything else, such as extra IP addresses or add-ons, only choose what you need. You can usually add things later.

6. Review the cart

Before checkout, check the cart summary shows the right plan, location, operating system and billing cycle, and that the total matches what you expected. If you have a genuine promo code, enter it here and check the total changes. See RackNerd promo codes and special deals explained.

7. Create your account

New customers create an account at checkout.

• Use accurate details: your real name, address and phone number. Like most hosting providers, RackNerd screens orders for fraud, and details that do not match your payment method are a common reason for delays.
• Use an email address you check, as your login details and invoices go there.
• Use a strong, unique password stored in a password manager. This account can reinstall or cancel your server.
• Turn on two-factor login in the client area afterwards, if it is offered.

8. Pay

Choose a payment method from those shown at checkout. RackNerd lists its accepted methods in its knowledge base and has added options over time, so check the checkout page for the current list. A few tips:

• Pay with a method in your own name, matching your account details.
• If you use a VPN while ordering, consider turning it off for checkout. Orders from an address that does not match your location are more likely to be held for review.
• Keep the invoice. It shows the price and terms you agreed to.

9. Wait for activation

Most orders are set up automatically, and the server is often ready within minutes. In one independent test by VPSBenchmarks, a RackNerd server accepted SSH logins about two minutes after ordering. Busy sale periods and orders held for review can take longer.

When it is ready, you receive a welcome email with the server's IP address, the root password and details for the control panel. Check your spam folder if it does not arrive.

10. Log in and secure the server

Log in over SSH with the details from the welcome email, then secure the server before installing anything: update it, create your own user, switch to SSH keys and turn on a firewall.

• How to connect with SSH and set up SSH keys
• Your first hour on a new RackNerd VPS

RackNerd's ctrl control panel gives you power controls, a browser console and reinstalls. It also offers one-click apps, which erase the server when installed. See RackNerd's one-click apps explained.

If your order gets stuck

If the order shows as pending or under review rather than active:

1. Check your email, including spam, for a message asking for more information. Reply promptly.
2. Open a support ticket from the client area, giving the order or invoice number. Be polite and brief.
3. Provide what they ask for. Fraud checks sometimes ask you to confirm your identity or payment.
4. Do not place a second order for the same plan while the first is pending. You may end up paying for two.

During big sales, support is busy and reviews can take longer. Patience usually solves it.

After you order

• Note the renewal date in your calendar, with a reminder a few weeks before.
• Know how to cancel. RackNerd's terms ask for cancellation requests from the client area at least five days before the renewal date. Data is deleted straight away when a service is cancelled, so back up first.
• Set up backups. Backups are not included with VPS plans by default. See using a storage VPS for backups.
• Keep your payment details current, as unpaid services are suspended and then removed shortly after the due date.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Plan shows out of stock	Sale or special sold out	Try another location, wait for a restock, or set an alert on the home page
Promo code not accepted	Code expired, or not valid for that plan	Specials often cannot be combined with codes. Check the code's terms
Payment failed	Bank declined, or details do not match	Try again with matching details, or another method
Order pending for hours	Held for review	Check email and open a ticket
No welcome email	Spam filter, or setup not finished	Check spam and the client area's services list
Cannot log in over SSH	Wrong IP or password, or server still starting	Copy details from the email, wait a few minutes, or use the console in ctrl
Wrong location or system chosen	Order form mistake	You can reinstall the system from ctrl. For location, ask support, but changes are not guaranteed

Limits

• No refunds by default. RackNerd's terms say refunds are considered case by case. Choose carefully.
• Order pages change. Wording and options may differ from this guide.
• Unmanaged. After setup, the software, security and backups are your job.
• Rules apply. RackNerd's acceptable use policy bans uses such as cryptocurrency mining and spam. Unmetered does not mean unlimited.

When to step up

If you are torn between two sizes and the price difference is small, the larger one often saves you a move later, especially with yearly plans that renew at the same price. For several apps or AI tools, start at 4 GB.

Not sure RackNerd is right for you? Read the RackNerd review. To compare what is available now, start with the cheapest RackNerd VPS guide and check the sales page.