Reinstall Server Safely

Reinstall operating system when recovery is not enough and return the server to service cleanly.

Category: Recovery
Prerequisites
  • You confirmed reinstall is required and less destructive options were considered.
  • Snapshot or external backup exists for any data you must preserve.
  • You have replacement credentials, scripts, and deployment notes ready.
Steps
  1. Open server actions in dashboard and select Reinstall.
  2. Choose target operating system image and confirm data wipe warning.
  3. Attach SSH key or set new secure credentials for post-reinstall access.
  4. Start reinstall and monitor progress until status is running.
  5. Reconnect to server and apply baseline updates and hardening.
  6. Restore application data and reapply service configuration from backup.
  7. Validate app health checks before routing production traffic back.
Verification
  • Server boots into expected OS after reinstall.
  • SSH access works with newly configured credentials.
  • Core services and application endpoints pass health checks.
Common Mistakes
  • Starting reinstall without confirming recoverable backups.
  • Forgetting to reapply firewall and security controls after clean OS install.
  • Pointing traffic to server before application restoration is complete.
Next: Troubleshooting Common Issues