Dedicated Servers FAQ

Why Can't I Add Users or Domains?

Your server may not have been provisioned yet.

Sometimes, there is a slight delay from the time you order your Dedicated Server account, to the time the server is provisioned, until then, neither Users nor Domains can be created.

You’ll know your server has been provisioned when it appears as "Up" in the main Dedicated Server Dashboard.

It Says I have my Dedicated Server...how do I use it?

Get your server up and running by doing any of the following:

• Create a User
• Add a Secure Shell ("SSH") Keypair
• Add an Administrative User

Once you have created your users, you’ll be able to host domains or whatever else you'd like to do via the web panel.

Create a User

You’ll find the steps below are similar to creating a User on a Shared or VPS machine.

1. Click to expand the Users link near the bottom of the Main Menu pane on the left side of the page.
   
2. Click to choose Manage Users. The Manage Users panel is displayed.
3. Click the Add a New User button. The Add a new user: sub-panel is displayed.
   
4. Fill out the form completely and click the Add User button.

Your user is created, although it may take a few moments for the new user to appear in your list.

The machine is now available to the user you've created and can be used in any way that you have configured it.

Add a Secure Shell (SSH) Keypair to the Machine

1. Click to expand the Dedicated Servers link near the bottom of the Main Menu pane on the left side of the page.
2. Create an SSH Keypair by choosing the SSH Keys link.
   
3. Choose the Dashboard link to open the Dashboard Page.
   
4. Click the Configure button on the right side of the page that corresponds to your machine. The Configure your Private Server page will open.
5. Under Root SSH Keys, move the appropriate Keypair from the Keys Available field to the Keys To Install field.
6. Install the private SSH Key to your SSH Client and SSH to the machine as the root user.

Add an Admin User to your Machine

1. Click to expand the Dedicated Servers link near the bottom of the Main Menu pane on the left side of the page.
2. Click the Admin Users link.
3. Click the Add A New Admin User button near the top of the page.
4. Fill in the form and click the Add Admin User button at the bottom of the page.

Your user should be created within a few minutes.

How do I connect to my Dedicated Server?

If your Dedicated Server's name is ds####, you can connect to your Dedicated Server before adding any domains to it, by using ds####.dreamservers.com as the "hostname."

How do I add a custom domain to my Dedicated Server without running a web server?

You can accomplish this by either:

• Fully hosting the domain, and then turning off the web server from your Dedicated Server Dashboard.
• Hosting the domain as DNS-Only and setting it up manually. This option is not recommended.

How do I get an IPv6 address for my Dedicated Server

Try hosting a domain on the server and add an IPv6 address to the domain.

If you don’t want to host a domain, or you need the IP to be entirely separate from the domains, write to support and ask them to set you up with an IPv6 address.

All About MYSQL Services

Now that you’ve got your Dedicated Server up and running, you may be wondering about the management of your MYSQL services. Take a look at the scenarios below to get more information.

I’m on a Shared Server and Upgrading to Dedicated Server

DreamHost will move all of your MYSQL services to your new Dedicated Server. Note, the mysql service moves even if the 'don't move data' option is elected.

I already have a Dedicated Server, and I’m adding a Virtual SQL Server (VSQL)

In order to better serve your databases, DreamHost will move all of your MYSQL services to the VSQL.

I’ve added two or More Dedicated Servers

Whichever is chronologically the first Dedicated Server you have set up, will automatically become the default server that receives all of your MYSQL services.

I’ve cancelled one of my Dedicated Servers

If you cancel one of the Dedicated Servers, your MYSQL services will move to your next available Dedicated Server in order of the date of setup.

I’ve cancelled my VSQL, but I still have a Dedicated Server

Your MYSQL services will move to your next available Dedicated Server in order of the date of setup.

I’ve cancelled all of my Dedicated Servers, but I still have a Shared Server account

All of your MYSQL services will be moved back to your Shared Server.

I’ve cancelled my Dedicated Server, but I do not have a VSQL or a Shared Server account.

All of your data is removed and your server disappears from your panel.

As a courtesy, DreamHost gives our customers a 5 day grace period, during which we’ll hang onto your data. After 5 days, both the and the server are completely gone.