Technical guide on performing a clean OS reinstallation via SolusVM 2. Learn how to redeploy Linux templates to reset your VPS to a factory-fresh state.

OS Reinstallation: Executing Clean Template Deployments

An OS Reinstallation (also known as a "Rebuild") is the process of completely wiping your VPS storage and deploying a fresh Operating System template from the Hovixa library. This is the most efficient way to recover from a catastrophic configuration error, remove a security compromise, or switch to a different Linux distribution (e.g., moving from Ubuntu to AlmaLinux).

⚠️ CRITICAL: Data Destruction Warning

Executing a reinstallation is destructive. All data currently stored on your NVMe drive—including databases, configuration files, and user home directories—will be permanently deleted. This action cannot be undone. Ensure you have an external backup before proceeding.

1. The Reinstallation Process

1. Log in to vm.hovixa.com.
2. Select your Virtual Machine from the dashboard.
3. In the primary action menu, click the Reinstall button.
4. Select OS: Choose your desired distribution and version (e.g., Debian 12, Rocky Linux 9, or Ubuntu 24.04).
5. Confirmation: You will be prompted to confirm the action. Review the selected OS carefully.
6. Click Reinstall.

2. Monitoring Deployment Status

Once the rebuild is triggered, the hypervisor performs several automated steps in the background:

• Storage Purge: The existing virtual disk image is discarded.
• Image Injection: A clean QCOW2 or raw template is copied to your allocated NVMe space.
• Provisioning: The system injects your primary IP address and network configuration.
• Password Generation: A new root password is generated and displayed in the SolusVM 2 task log once completed.

3. Post-Reinstallation Checklist

After the status reaches "Running," your VPS is back to a factory-fresh state. You must perform the following tasks to secure the instance:

• Clear Known Hosts: Your local computer will detect a "Host Key Verification Failure" because the SSH fingerpint has changed. Run ssh-keygen -R [Your_VPS_IP] to clear the old key.
• Update Packages: Templates are updated regularly, but always run apt update && apt upgrade (or dnf update) immediately.
• SSH Keys: If you did not use a cloud-init script, manually upload your public SSH key for secure access.

4. Technical Implementation Details

• Template Source: Hovixa uses "Cloud-Ready" templates. These are slimmed-down versions of the OS that lack a GUI and unnecessary background services, maximizing available RAM for your applications.
• Partitioning: Templates use a standard single-partition layout (/). If you require custom LVM or partitioning, you should install via ISO instead of the Reinstall tool.
• MAC Address: Your virtual network card's MAC address remains persistent across reinstalls, ensuring you keep the same IP allocation from our DHCP server.

Sysadmin Advice: If you are reinstalling due to a suspected hack, do not reuse your old passwords. Treat the new instance as a clean slate and audit your application code before re-uploading it to the server.