Managing Your Cloud Server
Last updated 20 February 2026
Overview
Once deployed, your cloud server can be fully managed from the AFRICLOUD dashboard. This guide covers the common management operations.
Power Actions
From the server detail page, you can:
- Start — power on a stopped server
- Stop — gracefully shut down the server (sends ACPI shutdown signal)
- Restart — graceful reboot
- Force Stop — immediate power off (use only if the server is unresponsive)
Resizing
You can upgrade your server to a higher plan at any time. The upgrade process requires a brief restart (typically under 1 minute). Downgrades are not supported — you would need to deploy a new server on a smaller plan and migrate your data.
Rebuilding
Rebuilding reinstalls the operating system from scratch. This destroys all data on the server. Use this when you want a fresh start or need to switch operating systems. Always back up your data before rebuilding.
Web Console
The web console provides browser-based access to your server via noVNC. This is useful for:
- Troubleshooting when SSH is not working
- Fixing firewall misconfigurations that locked you out
- Accessing the server during OS installation
Access it from the server detail page by clicking Console.
Resource Monitoring
The dashboard shows real-time CPU, RAM, disk, and bandwidth usage. Use these metrics to determine if you need to upgrade to a higher plan.