Operating systems
Available OS templates, paid licences, reinstalling an instance and what running an unmanaged VPS actually means.
Available templates
The deploy form lists operating systems by family and version. The active template list is
global and available in every zone.
The panel is the authoritative list: templates and versions are added and retired over
time, so this page deliberately does not freeze a version list. If a system or version you
need is missing, use the ticket link in the deploy form to suggest it.
Windows templates and licences
Windows templates are provided with a 180-day evaluation licence. VoxiHost does not
sell or renew Windows licences: after the evaluation period, activate or extend the licence
with Microsoft (or your reseller).
If you plan to run Windows long-term, budget for the licence separately. VoxiHost is an
infrastructure provider and does not verify customer licences; if a rights holder reports a
violation, the service may be suspended until the licence status is clarified.
Reinstall the operating system
You need the instance stopped and, if you may need the current files, a backup. Reinstalling
is a destructive recovery action, not a repair:
- Stop the instance first. Reinstall is refused while it is running.
- Open the instance and select the Danger Zone tab.
- Select Reinstall.
- Choose the new OS family and version and set a new Root Password.
- Confirm the data-loss warning.
The instance moves to reinstalling, briefly back to queue, then installing, then
running. Everything on the disk is replaced. Reinstall is the right tool when you want a
clean system or a different distribution; it is not a way to recover files. If you need the
current data, take a backup first: see
Backups & snapshots.
What "unmanaged" means
VoxiHost provides the instance and its network. Inside the operating system, you own:
- OS updates and upgrades.
- Users, SSH keys, sudo and authentication.
- Installed services, their configuration and their security.
- Backups of application data (in addition to instance backups).
- Firewall rules for the ports you expose.
We do not update or secure the software inside your server. That is your job. If a service
is compromised, the instance is yours to rebuild. The /guides/ section covers many of these
tasks, for example
How to Install Nginx on Ubuntu & Debian and
How to Secure SSH on Ubuntu & Debian.
Template compatibility
- Ubuntu and Debian have the widest guide coverage on this site; AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and
CentOS-compatible images provide Red Hat-compatible (RHEL-style) workflows. - Long-term-support (LTS) and stable releases are offered alongside older versions for
compatibility. - Zones and plans that are full are greyed out in the form; the OS template list itself is
global.
After the first boot, connect over the console or SSH. See
Console, SSH & RDP.