Setup & operation
What is KVM virtualisation?
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is full hardware virtualisation built into the Linux kernel, using processor extensions to run each guest with its own kernel and hardware-enforced isolation. Unlike OpenVZ or LXC, which share the host kernel, a KVM guest can load kernel modules, run any operating system and use real swap.
The practical consequences are concrete: Docker works properly, WireGuard loads, nested virtualisation is possible, FreeBSD and Windows boot, and memory allocated to you cannot be quietly oversold because it is genuinely reserved.
Overhead is 2–5% for most workloads, which is a rounding error against the difference between shared and dedicated cores. Every OnionVPS instance is KVM, without exception.
See also: Nested virtualisation · WireGuard · OpenVZ · KVM
7 answers in Setup & operation
- How do I connect to a VPS with SSH? Run ssh root@your-server-ip from any terminal on macOS, Linux or Windows 10 and later. Use the key you supplied at provisioning, or the password email…
- How do I secure a new VPS? Five steps cover the overwhelming majority of real-world compromises: key-based SSH with password authentication disabled, no direct root login, a def…
- How do I stop SSH brute-force attacks? Disable password authentication entirely — brute force against key-based SSH is not possible. Add fail2ban to reduce log noise, and consider moving SS…
- How do I set up a firewall on a VPS? Use nftables on modern Linux, or ufw as a friendlier front end. Set the default inbound policy to drop, allow established and related connections, the…
- Can I install any operating system on a VPS? On KVM, yes. OnionVPS provides templates for Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, NixOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Windows Server, Proxmox …
- Can I upload my own ISO? Yes, on every plan, at no cost and with no approval step. Upload the ISO from the panel or point us at a URL, attach it as virtual media, and boot fro…