---
title: How to connect to a Dedibox server
description: This page explains how to connect to a Dedibox server
tags: dedibox connect putty
dates:
  validation: 2025-09-03
  posted: 2022-01-31
---
import DediboxScalewayMigration from '@macros/bare-metal/dedibox-scaleway-migration.mdx'
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'


<DediboxScalewayMigration />

A common way of connecting to your Dedibox server is via the command line, using SSH. SSH is a secure communication protocol, which imposes an encryption key exchange at the beginning of the connection. This means that the exchange of data between the client and the server will be encrypted.

However, you may also connect to your server via a graphical interface, such as Windows Remote Desktop.

You can also use FTP, SFTP, or SCP to transfer data to and from your server.

<Requirements />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- [Created and uploaded your SSH key](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/)
- [Created](/dedibox-scaleway/how-to/order-dedibox/) and [installed](/dedibox-scaleway/how-to/install-dedibox/) a Dedibox server and transferred your SSH key to it during installation

## How to connect via SSH

### From OSX (Mac) and Linux

1. Open a terminal program on your local machine.
2. Enter the command below into the terminal. Make sure you replace `your_private_key` with the filename of your private key (often `id_rsa`) and `your_server_ip` with the IP address of your server.
    ```bash
    ssh -i ~/.ssh/your_private_key root@your_server_ip
    ```
3. If / when prompted, allow connection to the host by typing `yes`, then press **Enter**.
    ```
    The authenticity of host 'myhost.ext (212.47.226.35)' cannot be established.
    RSA key fingerprint is 4f:ba:65:cf:14:64:a7:1e:b6:07:7c:00:71:95:21:fa.
    Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?
    ```

    You are now connected to your server.

    <Message type="tip">
    If you are new to using the Linux shell, check out our dedicated tutorial to help you take your [first steps with the Linux command line](/tutorials/first-steps-linux-command-line/).
    </Message>

### From Windows

To connect to your server from Windows, you will need to use a small application called **PuTTY**, an SSH client.

To connect to your Instance from Windows, you will need to use a small application called **PuTTY**, an SSH client.

1. Download and install PuTTY [here](https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html)
2. Launch PuTTY on your computer. The main screen of the application displays.
3. Enter your Instance's IP address in the **Hostname** field.
    <Message type="tip">
      To find the IP address of your Instance, log into the Scaleway console and
      click **Dedibox** in the Bare Metal section of the side menu. A list of your
      Dedibox servers and their associated IP addresses displays.
    </Message>
4. Use the side menu to navigate to the **Auth** sub-category by expanding **Connection**, then **SSH**, and finally clicking on **Auth**.
5. Click the **Browse** button and select the private key file you [generated previously](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/).
6. Click **Open** at the bottom of the screen to open a connection to the server. Upon the first connection, PuTTY asks you to allow the connection to the host.
7. Click **OK** to confirm. The terminal window displays.
8. Enter your username and password to authenticate against the server with your SSH key.

    You are now connected to your server.

    <Message type="tip">
    If you are new to using the Linux shell, check out our dedicated tutorial to help you take your [first steps with the Linux command line](/tutorials/first-steps-linux-command-line/).
    </Message>

## How to connect via Remote Desktop

The following steps show you how to connect to your Dedibox server on which you have installed Windows Server, from your local Windows machine.

1. Open the **Remote Desktop Connection** tool on your local Windows machine.
2. Click the drop-down arrow next to **Show connections**.
3. Enter the following information:
    - In **Computer**, enter the IP address of your Dedibox server (e.g. 163.172.20.01).
    - In **Username**, for a Windows Server type **Administrateur**.
4. Click **Connect**. You are prompted to enter a password.
5. Enter the password that you set during installation of your Dedibox Windows Server machine, and click **OK**.
6. You may be asked to confirm that you want to connect. Click **Yes**.

    You are connected to the graphical interface of your Windows Server.