VPS reboot vs shutdown explained

What this solves

You need to restart or power off your VPS and want to avoid confusion.

Reboot

Reboot restarts the OS: reboot or shutdown -r now. The VPS stays “on” in the provider’s panel; it just restarts. Use after kernel updates or to clear a stuck state.

Shutdown

Shutdown powers off the OS: shutdown -h now or poweroff. The VPS may stay billed but be offline until you turn it back on from the client area. Use when you don’t need the server for a while.

Note: Billing often continues while the VPS is off. Check your provider’s policy.

When to contact support

If the VPS doesn’t come back after a reboot or you need to power it on from our side, open a ticket.

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