# How to buy a VPS (VDS) at DataPasa

> Order a virtual server at DataPasa step by step. Choose a location, plan and operating system, pay by the hour from your balance and connect in minutes.

![Server racks in a data center](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/how-to-buy-a-vps/cover.webp)

If this is your first virtual server, the process is simpler than it looks. You pick a plan, choose an operating system and click one button. A few minutes later you have your own server on the internet with full root access.

## What a VPS is and what you can run on it

A VPS (virtual private server, also called [VDS](https://datapasa.com/wiki/getting-started/vps-vs-vds-vs-dedicated)) is an isolated part of a powerful physical server. You get your own operating system, dedicated vCPU and RAM, and root access. On a VPS you can:

- host one or many websites, for example on WordPress;
- run a Telegram bot or any other application around the clock;
- set up a personal VPN such as WireGuard, AmneziaVPN or VLESS with Xray;
- run a game server for Minecraft, CS2, Palworld and other games;
- run an AI agent like [OpenClaw](https://datapasa.com/wiki/guides/install-openclaw-on-vps).

Unlike shared hosting, you control the whole system and can install any software.

## Before you start

You need a DataPasa account with a confirmed email address and some money on the balance:

1. [Create an account](https://datapasa.com/wiki/getting-started/create-an-account) and confirm your email.
2. [Top up your balance](https://datapasa.com/wiki/billing/top-up-balance). The minimum top-up is $5.

Servers are billed by the hour, so even $5 is enough to try a plan and delete it later. See [how hourly billing works](https://datapasa.com/wiki/billing/hourly-billing).

## Step 1. Open the order form

Sign in to [cloud.datapasa.com](https://cloud.datapasa.com), open **Cloud Servers** in the menu and click **Order server**.

## Step 2. Choose a location

In **1. Location** pick the data center where the server will run. Choose the one closest to your users for the lowest latency.

## Step 3. Choose a plan

In **2. Tariff** compare the plans by vCPU, RAM, NVMe disk and bandwidth. Every plan shows its hourly and monthly price.

How to pick:

- **A small website, VPN or bot:** 1 vCPU and 1 to 2 GB RAM is enough.
- **An online store or several projects:** 2 vCPU and 4 GB RAM.
- **Databases, game servers, heavy applications:** 4 vCPU and more.

If you are not sure, start small. Because billing is hourly, moving to a bigger plan later costs you nothing extra. All plans and prices are also on the [pricing page](https://datapasa.com/en/pricing).

## Step 4. Choose an operating system

In **3. Operating system** pick a distribution. Ubuntu LTS or Debian is a good default if you are new to Linux. Windows is available on request from the VPS-4 plan, [contact support](https://datapasa.com/en/contacts) for it.

## Step 5. Check the summary and place the order

The **Summary** block shows the location, plan, configuration, bandwidth, operating system and the price per hour and per month. The monthly figure assumes 730 hours.

Click **Place order**. A short notice about outgoing mail appears: mail ports are closed on every plan until you ask us to open them (details in [Outgoing mail ports](https://datapasa.com/wiki/server-management/outgoing-mail-ports)). Confirm with **I agree, place order**.

The first hour is charged from your balance immediately.

## Step 6. Wait for provisioning

The new server appears in **Cloud Servers** with the status **Provisioning**. It usually becomes **ACTIVE** within a few minutes. When it is ready, the list shows:

- **IP**: the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address from the free /64 that comes with the server;
- **Root password**: click to reveal or copy it;
- **Next renewal**: when the next hour will be charged.

> **The root password is shown only in the panel.** We do not send server passwords by email. Copy it from the **Root password** column and store it in a password manager.

If provisioning fails, the charged hour is returned to your balance automatically.

## What next

- [Connect to your server via SSH](https://datapasa.com/wiki/server-management/connect-via-ssh).
- Keep enough money on the balance: when it runs out the server is suspended, and after 24 hours it is deleted. See [how hourly billing works](https://datapasa.com/wiki/billing/hourly-billing).
- Need more than 3 servers? Click **Request higher limit** on the **Cloud Servers** page.