How to troubleshoot “Server not reachable” on VPS?

Introduction

Seeing a “Server Not Reachable” error on your Virtual Private Server (VPS) can be stressful, especially if your website or application suddenly stops responding. This usually means your VPS cannot be accessed over the network, which can happen due to connectivity issues, firewall blocks, or misconfigurations.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step how to troubleshoot this issue and restore access quickly. For more VPS management resources, visit BigCloudy.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before investigating your VPS, make sure your local internet connection is working properly.

Steps to Verify:

Open a few websites to confirm internet access
Ping a known IP such as 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
Restart your router or modem
Switch to a wired network or mobile hotspot to rule out Wi-Fi issues

If your connection is stable, move on to checking your VPS.

2. Ping Your VPS IP Address

Pinging your VPS helps determine whether it’s responding to network requests.

How to Ping:

Open your terminal or command prompt and type:

ping your_vps_ip

What the Results Mean:

Replies received: VPS is reachable, but there may be a firewall or service issue
Timeouts/unreachable messages: VPS might be down or disconnected from the network

3. Check Your VPS Status in the Control Panel

Most hosting providers offer a control panel where you can monitor and manage your server.

What to Look For:

Is the VPS running or stopped?
Any alerts, suspensions, or maintenance notices?
Try using Reboot/Restart if the server appears frozen
If it fails to start, contact your provider to confirm hardware or network issues

4. Review Firewall Settings

A firewall blocking essential ports can cause “Server Not Reachable” errors.

For Linux VPS:

Access the console from your hosting panel if SSH isn’t working
Check firewall rules:

sudo ufw status

sudo ufw allow 22

sudo ufw allow 80

sudo ufw allow 443

For Windows VPS:

Access the VPS through the control panel console
Open Windows Defender Firewall → Advanced Settings
Ensure inbound rules allow RDP (port 3389) and other necessary services

5. Verify Network Configuration

A misconfigured network interface can prevent your VPS from being reachable.

For Linux VPS:

ip addr

systemctl restart networking

Confirm your IP, gateway, and DNS are configured correctly.

For Windows VPS:

Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Connections

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Right-click your adapter → Properties
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Ensure IPv4 is enabled and has correct IP and gateway values

6. Check SSH or RDP Service Availability

If your VPS responds to ping but you can’t log in, the service might not be running.

For Linux VPS (SSH):

sudo systemctl status ssh

sudo systemctl restart ssh # if inactive

For Windows VPS (RDP):

Open System Properties → Remote Desktop

Ensure “Allow remote connections to this computer” is selected

7. Check for Provider or ISP Restrictions

Your hosting provider or ISP may block certain ports or temporarily suspend your server due to abuse protection or DDoS filtering.

What to Do:

Contact your VPS provider to confirm no network restrictions
Ask if ports 22 (SSH) or 3389 (RDP) are blocked
Check your account for billing or security suspensions

8. Review System and Network Logs

Logs can help pinpoint the cause of the issue.

Linux VPS:

cat /var/log/syslog

cat /var/log/auth.log

Windows VPS:
Use Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System / Application to review recent network or service errors.

9. Contact Your VPS Hosting Provider

If all else fails, contact technical support. Provide:

Your VPS IP address
Error message (e.g., “Server not reachable”)
Summary of troubleshooting steps taken

We do not restore anything when the server is not reachable. Simply troubleshoot it as follows if possible, or another with the same meaning.

Conclusion

A “Server Not Reachable” error can stem from network issues, firewall blocks, or VPS misconfigurations. By following these steps, systematically check connectivity, firewall settings, network configuration, and service availability. you can often restore access quickly.

If the problem continues, you can contact BigCloudy Support for further investigation. Our team will closely review console access, system logs, and network configuration to determine the root cause.

Need Help?

If you face any issues updating your nameservers or need further assistance, our support team is always available:

Email: support@bigcloudy.com
Submit a support ticket

FAQ

What causes a “Server Not Reachable” error?

It can be due to network problems, firewall rules, service misconfigurations, or VPS downtime.

Can I fix this without contacting my provider?

Yes, many connectivity or firewall issues can be resolved using the steps above. However, provider-level issues require support intervention.

How do I know if it’s a VPS or local network issue?

Ping your VPS from multiple networks. If unreachable from all, the issue is likely on the VPS side.

Will rebooting my VPS fix the issue?

Sometimes, yes. Rebooting can resolve frozen services or misconfigured network interfaces.

How can I prevent this issue in the future?

Regular monitoring, proper firewall configuration, and backups help prevent connectivity problems.