How to reboot a server via Client Portal, Linux, and Windows

Learn how to safely restart your server using the preferred methods: command line (SSH/RDP) or the Windows Start menu. If those options are unavailable, you can use the Cherry Servers Client Portal or the BMC console as a last resort.

Key points to consider

Restarting a server should primarily be done through the operating system using SSH (Linux) or RDP (Windows) to ensure a clean shutdown of services and avoid potential data corruption.
The Client Portal method performs a forced shutdown, which may lead to data loss or corruption. This should only be used as a last resort if the server is unresponsive.
Remote connections such as SSH (Linux) and RDP (Windows) may become temporarily unavailable during reboot.
If standard reboot methods fail, you can restart the server via the BMC console in the Cherry Servers Client Portal for a more controlled restart.

Step-by-step instructions

Part A: Restarting the server via Cherry Servers Client Portal

Log in to the Client Portal:
- Open a web browser and navigate to the Cherry Servers Client Portal.
- Enter your login credentials and access your account (see Fig. 1).
  
  Fig. 1. Cherry Servers Client Portal login page, where users need to enter their email address and password to access their account.
Select your server:
- From the dashboard, locate and click on the server you want to reboot (see Fig. 2).
  
  Fig. 2. Cherry Servers Client Portal dashboard displaying a list of deployed servers with their details, including hostname, IP address, operating system, hourly cost, and power status.
Initiate the power off action:
- Click the "Actions" button at the top-right of the server details page (see Fig. 3).
  
  Fig. 3. Server details page in the Cherry Servers Client Portal. Click on the "Actions" button in the top-right corner to access server management options, including rebooting the server.
- Select "Power off" from the dropdown menu (see Fig. 4).
  
  Fig. 4. Selecting Power Off from the Actions menu.
- A confirmation pop-up will appear with important information about the power-off process. Review the details and click the "Turn power off" button to proceed (see Fig. 5).
  
  Fig. 5. Confirmation pop-up displaying server shutdown details and the "Turn power off" button to proceed.
- Once the shutdown process is initiated, a notification will appear confirming that the server is turning off (see Fig. 6).
  
  Fig. 6. Notification indicating that the server shutdown process has been initiated.
- The server status will show "Turning the power off," indicating the shutdown is in progress (see Fig. 7).
  
  Fig. 7. Cherry Servers Client Portal showing the server status as "Turning the power off."
Initiate a power on action:
- Click the "Actions" button at the top-right of the server details page (see Fig. 3).
- Select "Power on" from the dropdown menu (see Fig. 8).
  
  Fig. 8. Selecting Power On from the Actions menu.
- Once the power-on action is initiated, a notification will confirm that the server is turning on (see Fig. 9).
  
  Fig. 9. Notification indicating that the server power-on action has been initiated.
- The server status will show "Turning the power on," indicating the power on is in progress (see Fig. 10).
  
  Fig. 10. Cherry Servers Client Portal showing the server status as "Turning the power on."
Monitor the server status:

- After performing the power on/off actions, check the server status by observing the circle near the "Power" label:
  - A green circle indicates the server is powered on (see Fig. 11).
    
    Fig. 11. A green circle next to "Power" means the server is powered on.
  - A gray circle indicates the server is powered off (see Fig. 12).
    
    Fig. 12. A gray circle next to "Power" means the server is powered off.
- If your server does not have power on and off functionality, please contact support@cherryservers.com for further troubleshooting.

Note: If the server appears to be ON but cannot log in, please access the server via the console for further troubleshooting. Refer to the following tutorial for guidance on connecting to the console: How to use and navigate remote management consoles for Supermicro, Huawei, and Intel servers.

Part B: Restarting the server via Linux

If you're not already connected to your server via SSH, refer to the How to connect to a Linux server using SSH tutorial for detailed instructions.

Restart the server:
- To safely restart the server, run the following command:
```
$ sudo reboot
```
- If the server is unresponsive and requires an immediate reboot, use:
```
$ sudo reboot -f
```
Confirm the reboot:
- Your SSH session will be disconnected during the reboot process.
- Wait a few minutes and reconnect to confirm the server is online.

Part C: Restarting the server via Windows

If you're not already connected to your Windows server, follow the How to connect to a Windows server via RDP tutorial.

Initiate a restart from the Windows interface:
- Click the Start Menu, select Power, and then choose Restart (see Fig. 13).
  
  Fig. 13. Windows Server restart process: Click the Start Menu, select Power, and choose Restart to reboot the server.
- Alternatively, open a command prompt as an administrator and run:
```
$ shutdown /r /t 0
```
Monitor the restart:
- Your RDP session will disconnect during the reboot.
- Wait a few minutes and reconnect to verify that the server runs normally.

Summary

This tutorial covered rebooting your server via the Cherry Servers Client Portal, Linux, and Windows. You learned how to use the Client Portal to restart your server and monitor its status. For Linux, the sudo reboot command allows safe restarts via SSH, while Windows servers can be rebooted through the Start Menu or command prompt. If power options are unavailable or login issues persist, refer to the remote management console tutorial or contact Cherry Servers support for assistance at support@cherryservers.com.