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XXD VPS Guide
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Main guide · step 1 of 720–30 minutes

Buy a server

You need: Email, a payment methodPick a provider and plan, choose Ubuntu, note the IP and password

What this step is

Rent a server from a provider. When you’re done you’ll have three things: the server IP, the root password and the SSH port. The next steps use them to log in.

Which provider

We recommend BandwagonHost (搬瓦工). Its routes are stable, the author uses it, and this setup has been tested on it again and again.

Buy from BandwagonHost

DMIT is good too, but often out of stock — don’t wait for it.

About these links

Both are the author’s referral links. If you buy through them, the author may earn a commission, which goes to charitable work. Prices and stock are as shown on the official sites.

Which options to choose

Provider pages show lots of options; only these matter:

Option Choose Why
Operating system Ubuntu 24.04 Only Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+ are supported. Wrong choice? Reinstall from the dashboard
Location Los Angeles, US Relatively close to China; all major AI services support the US
Memory 1 GB is enough Nodes and the AI API run well on 1 GB in testing
Virtualization KVM A full system. BandwagonHost uses it by default
IP A dedicated public IP (IPv4) Not a NAT machine — those only get a few ports, and the certificate and nodes won’t install
Traffic A few hundred GB to 1 TB per month Plenty for you and your family

Get the OS right

The most common mistake is choosing CentOS or another old system. This setup won’t install on it; you’ll have to “reinstall OS” from the dashboard as Ubuntu 24.04. The root password usually changes after reinstalling — use the new one.

Ordering

  1. Click the link above and choose a plan and billing cycle (quarterly or yearly).
  2. Choose Los Angeles and Ubuntu 24.04 (some providers let you pick the OS after the server is ready).
  3. Sign up with your email and pay as the checkout page allows. BandwagonHost accepts Alipay (支付宝).
  4. Within minutes to tens of minutes you’ll get a “server ready” email, and the server appears in your service list.
BandwagonHost order page with billing cycle and location
Order page: the red boxes are Billing Cycle and Location. Prices as on the official site. Screenshot 2026-10; the interface may have changed since.

More detail in the how-tos: Buy from BandwagonHost, Buy from DMIT. Picked the wrong OS? See Reinstall the OS as Ubuntu.

Write down three things

Find these in the email or the provider’s dashboard and keep them somewhere only you can see:

Note Looks like Notes
Server IP Four groups of numbers, e.g. 203.0.113.10 The server’s address
root password A string of letters and numbers The admin password. Some providers give a key file instead — note where it is
SSH port Usually 22, sometimes another number The “room number” for remote login

You should see

The server shows as “Running” in the provider’s dashboard, and you’ve written down its IP, root password and SSH port.

Don't do this

Don’t post these three in group chats, send them to strangers or share screenshots. After the next steps, the server will only accept your computer’s key, and the password will no longer work for remote login.

Stuck?

Payment failed. What now?

Try another payment method offered at checkout. Still failing? Open a ticket with the provider, or try another provider.

Paid, but no “server ready” email?

Check spam first. Then log in to the provider and look for “My Services” — the IP and login details are usually there too. New accounts are sometimes reviewed manually; wait a little or open a ticket.

Wrong OS, or not sure which I picked?

Find “Reinstall OS” in the provider’s dashboard and choose Ubuntu 24.04. Reinstalling wipes the server — nothing to lose on a new machine. Use the new root password afterwards.

My SSH port isn't 22. Does it matter?

No. Note it down and tell the AI (or put it in the command) in the next steps.

Before moving on, check

This setup is for you and your family only. Follow local laws and each site's and AI tool's terms of use. Open source (MIT) — code and feedback on GitHub.