Reinstalling an image (VPS)
Valid for VPS purchased after May 16, 2023.
You can restore your VPS by reinstalling an image. You can use your own images or those provided by IONOS. This article explains how to reinstall an image on an existing VPS:
Caution
If you reinstall an image on an existing server, all existing data on the server will be permanently deleted and replaced by the data from the newly installed image. This process cannot be undone. Ensure that a backup of the server is created before installing the image. Otherwise, there is a risk of data loss.
Notes
While an image is being installed, the relevant server cannot be edited.
The login details are the same as those for the server from which the image was created. This does not apply to IONOS images or ISO images.
If you create an image from a server on which Plesk Obsidian is installed and use this image in the Cloud Panel to restore another server, you must change the Plesk activation code on the newly created server in the Plesk license settings. You can find instructions in the following article:
Changing the Plesk Activation Code
To reinstall an image, complete the following:
- Log in to your IONOS account .
In the title bar, click Menu > Servers & Cloud.
Optional: Select the required Servers & Cloud contract.In the Infrastructure > Servers section, click on the required server.
Click Actions.
Click Reinstall Image. The Reinstall Image section is displayed.
In the Images section, select the operating system or one or more applications for the server.
Various operating systems are offered in the Images tab. The Applications tab offers ready-to-use applications. The selected applications are deployed in a Docker container, which is set up on the server alongside the latest Ubuntu LTS version. The required storage space is displayed visually in a bar once the application has been selected. The access URLs for the applications are displayed after installation in the detailed overview of your server under Infrastructure > Servers.
Notes
- If the selected server size is insufficient for certain applications, these cannot be selected in the Cloud Panel. Furthermore, an upgrade to a server with more resources will be suggested.
- The IONOS Images tab also offers the Ubuntu 26.04 + Docker image for installation. This image does not contain any applications.
Optional: Click on Show in the Advanced Options section.
- Enter a secure password in the Password field and repeat it.
Note: This step is only possible after selecting a Linux distribution or an application.
To customise the configuration of your server following a fresh installation, enter the required post-creation script in the User Data field.
Note: This step is only possible if you have selected a Linux distribution or an application.Select the script type you are using from Script Type.
Note: This step is only possible if you have selected a Linux distribution or an application.Click on Reinstall Image.
The server will be reinstalled. This process may take a few minutes.
Notes
- In some cases, installing applications may take longer than simply provisioning the server, as the relevant cloud-init script is only executed once the server has been installed. Please bear with us in such cases. The installation of the applications is usually completed within an hour at the latest.
- Once installed, your applications are protected by additional password security. The login details are listed in your server’s detailed overview. You will also find information there on how to disable the password protection.
- If you install an application with a web user interface (e.g. n8n), an SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt is automatically installed and configured during setup. Access to the n8n interface is therefore encrypted via HTTPS from the beginning, and does not trigger any security warnings from the browser.
In rare cases, there may be a delay in the issuance of the SSL certificate. In this instance, a security warning will appear when you access the URL. This might read, for example, “Your connection is not private”. If you see this security warning, restart the server. Alternatively, you can establish an SSH connection to the server and trigger a new certificate request. To do this, enter the following command:
docker restart traefik
- Due to a known behaviour in the n8n application, a full-screen red warning message (e.g. “Deceptive site ahead” / phishing warning) may occasionally appear in the Google Chrome browser, even though a valid SSL certificate is present. This warning is triggered erroneously and usually disappears on its own after a short while.