Reset Root Password with the Helper ISO
Every EDBB VPS ships with a password-helper ISO. Booting from it lets you assign a brand-new root password without reinstalling the operating system or touching your disks.
Before You Start
🔐 Portal Access Ready
Confirm you can sign in to the EDBB VPS Portal. All steps happen from the service dashboard.
💾 Safe Maintenance Window
Plan a brief outage. The VPS reboots twice—once to load the helper ISO, once to return to disk.
🔑 New Password Prepared
Generate a strong credential (use a password manager) so you can paste it the moment the helper prompts for input.
Step 1 – Open the VPS Dashboard
1
Log in
Sign in to the EDBB portal, go to Services, and open the VPS that needs root access restored.
2
Check power state
Make sure the VPS is running. The helper flow reboots automatically—no manual shutdown is required.
Step 2 – Boot from the Password Helper ISO
1
Enable console access
In the quick action column on the left, expand the red VNC Off button and choose Enable VNC. If you need extra guidance, see the VNC guide.
2
Open Installation → ISO Boot
Switch to the Installation tab at the top of the service view, then click the ISO Boot sub-tab.
3
Mount the helper ISO
Select 1_Password-Reset-Helper.iso, tick Force reset & boot from the selected ISO, and click Mount ISO.
4
Open the console
Launch the built-in console (or your preferred VNC client) to watch the helper boot.
Step 3 – Set the New Root Password
- Click inside the console window to capture the keyboard.
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Wait until the helper finishes loading—you’ll see the on-screen prompt.
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Enter the new root password and press Enter.
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Re-enter the password to confirm. A success message appears.
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Press Enter again. The helper automatically unmounts itself and reboots the VPS from disk.
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Wait for the operating system to boot, then log in with the new root password to verify the change.
Write the password to your manager immediately—EDBB does not resend credentials. Treat the helper ISO as a temporary tool; leave it mounted only while you complete the reset.
Step 4 – Return to Normal Boot
1
Unmount the ISO
Back in the Installation → ISO Boot tab, click Unmount so the VPS boots from disk next time.
2
Disable console access
Turn VNC back off if it is only needed for recovery.
3
Secure the credential
Store the new password in your team’s password manager and share it only with trusted administrators.
Aftercare Checklist
- Replace password authentication with SSH keys once you confirm access.
- Review sudo/root accounts regularly to ensure they’re still required.
- Keep a copy of this playbook in your team’s incident response runbook for quick reference.