![[DoRoyal] Logo](https://cdn.doroyal.com/2026/08/DoRoyal_by_Sidular-1-scaled.png)
You can reinstall your VPS operating system at any time from the King Panel. This is useful when you want a fresh start, need a different distribution, or your current install is broken beyond repair.
Before You Begin: Back Up Everything
Reinstalling erases ALL data on your VPS. There is no undo. Before reinstalling:
- Download any websites, databases, and configuration files you need:
mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > all-databases.sql tar -czf backup.tar.gz /var/www /etc/nginx all-databases.sql
- Copy the backup off the server, e.g. from your local machine:
scp root@YOUR_SERVER_IP:backup.tar.gz .
- Note any DNS records, cron jobs, and firewall rules you will need to recreate.
As an unmanaged service, backups are your responsibility; we cannot recover data after a reinstall.
Reinstall Steps
- Log in to the King Panel.
- Select your VPS.
- Choose the Reinstall option.
- Pick your desired operating system template from the list.
- Confirm and wait for the process to complete. This typically takes a few minutes.
- Once finished, retrieve the new root password from your Client Area service details page (or as presented by the panel).
After the Reinstall
- SSH in with the new credentials. If your local machine complains about a changed host key (this is expected after a reinstall):
ssh-keygen -R YOUR_SERVER_IP
Then connect again. - Change the root password, update packages, and re-apply security hardening (see Securing Your VPS: SSH Keys and Firewall Basics).
- Restore your data and re-deploy your applications.
Choosing a Distribution
- Ubuntu LTS / Debian: the most common choice; huge community, most tutorials assume one of these.
- AlmaLinux / Rocky: RHEL-compatible; preferred by some panels and enterprise software.
- On ARM plans, all offered templates are ARM64-native. See ARM VPS Explained if you are unsure about software compatibility.
Troubleshooting
- Reinstall appears stuck: give it up to 15 minutes; if it is still stuck, check status.doroyal.com and open a ticket. A stuck provisioning process is on our side and covered by support.
- Cannot SSH after reinstall: clear the old host key (see above), confirm you are using the new password, and check the VNC console in the King Panel.
