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Getting Started
15 articles
New user guides and tutorials
VPS
9 articles
VPS management and troubleshooting
Game Servers
15 articles
Game server setup and configuration
Web Hosting
11 articles
Web hosting guides
Billing
12 articles
Billing and payment information
Account
8 articles
Account management
Network
2 articles
Private networking and WireGuard
Managed Services
6 articles
Managed Services — frequently asked questions
Support
7 articles
Support — frequently asked questions
Technical Information
6 articles
Technical Information — frequently asked questions
Getting Started
Welcome to SableServers
New here? A quick tour of your account, services, billing and how to get help.
Navigating Your Customer Dashboard
A quick tour of the dashboard, the main menu, search, pinned services, mobile layout and the profile menu.
Securing Your Account with Two-Factor Authentication
Add a second login factor in a few minutes using any TOTP app such as Google Authenticator, 1Password, Authy or Bitwarden.
How quickly can I get started?
Most services are set up automatically once payment goes through. VPS are usually ready in minutes; game servers and web hosting deploy automatically. Manage everything in the Unified Panel.
What payment methods do you accept?
Pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex via Stripe), Interac e-Transfer to billing@sableservers.com, or account credit. All charges are in CAD with no GST/HST added.
Do you offer a free trial?
No free trials. Cancel a new service within 30 days of activation and we refund the unused part of the term, prorated.
How do I access my services after signup?
When your service is ready we email its IP and hostname. Manage services, billing, support and account settings in the Unified Panel. Server credentials are shown in the panel.
What's included in my welcome email?
The welcome email links to your Unified Panel dashboard. A separate email for each service shows its IP and hostname. Server passwords are kept in the panel, not emailed.
What is the Unified Panel?
The Unified Panel is our in-house platform: one login for server control, Web Console, graphs, snapshots, backups, billing, support, 2FA and API keys.
How to enable VNC console access?
Open your VPS, make sure Web Console Access is enabled, then click Web Console. It works even when SSH or networking is down.
How to create and restore snapshots?
Open your VPS, click Snapshots, then Create Snapshot. To roll back, click Restore and confirm. Snapshot storage is billed per GB per month.
How to view resource usage graphs?
Open your VPS and click Graphs to see CPU, memory, disk I/O and network history over 1 hour to 30 days.
How to manage IP addresses?
Open your VPS and click Networking to see your IPv4 address, gateway and subnet. Buy extra IPv4 with Purchase Additional IPv4. For a working reverse DNS (PTR), open a ticket.
How to mount ISO images?
Open your VPS, click Reinstall OS, pick an image under Available ISOs and click Mount ISO, then reboot. Click Unmount ISO when you're done.
Can I install the panel as an app on my phone?
Yes. The Unified Panel is a Progressive Web App. Use Add to Home Screen (Safari) or Install app (Chrome). You get push notifications and a mobile layout.
VPS
Deploying Your First VPS
Walk through ordering a VPS, choosing an operating system and login method, and connecting for the first time.
Using the VNC Console and Recovery Mode
When SSH is broken, the web console gives you direct keyboard access to the VM. Recovery Mode boots a rescue ISO so you can repair a server that will not boot.
Creating and Restoring VPS Snapshots
Snapshots are point-in-time copies of your VM disk. Take one before risky changes and roll back if something goes wrong.
How do I access my VPS control panel?
Manage your VPS in the Unified Panel: click Services, then VPS. From there use power controls, the Web Console, graphs, snapshots, reinstall, recovery and firewall.
How do I start/stop/restart my VPS?
Open your VPS in the Unified Panel and use the buttons at the top: Start, Restart, Shutdown, or Force Stop (only if the server is not responding).
How do I access my VPS via SSH?
Find your IP, SSH port (default 22) and root password under Server Information on your VPS page, then connect with ssh root@your-server-ip. Windows VPS use RDP.
Can I upgrade my VPS resources?
Yes. Open your VPS, go to Current Plan, and click Upgrade Plan. Pay prorated now or schedule for next cycle. New CPU and RAM apply after a short reboot.
What operating systems are available?
Choose from Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and more, or Windows Server (bring your own licence). See the current versions in the store or on the Reinstall OS page.
How do I change my VPS root password?
Open your VPS, go to Server Information, and click the change password button on the Root Password row. Enter at least 12 characters and click Change Password.
Game Servers
Deploying a Game Server
Pick a game, choose RAM and location, and your server is online and ready to join in a couple of minutes.
Managing Server Files: File Manager and SFTP
Edit configs, upload mods and plugins, and download world files using the in-panel file manager or an SFTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP.
Scheduled Tasks, Backups and Discord Notifications
Automate restarts and console commands, understand game server backup plans, and send server events to a Discord channel.
How do I access my game server control panel?
Game servers are managed in the Unified Panel at unified.sableservers.com. Open Services, Game Servers and select your server to use the console, files, schedules and more.
How do I install mods/plugins?
Use the Mods tab on supported games, or upload mod files yourself with the Files tab or SFTP, then restart the server.
How do I upload custom maps?
Stop your server, upload the map with the Files tab or SFTP to the right folder for your game, point your config at it, then start the server.
How do I schedule automatic restarts?
Open your game server's Schedules tab, click Create Task, choose Power Action and restart, pick a schedule and add optional player warnings.
Can I install custom game versions?
Yes. Pick your Minecraft server type when ordering. Change the version in the Startup tab, save, then fully stop and start the server.
How do I access my server files via SFTP?
In the Files tab click SFTP for host, port and username, and generate a password under Settings, SFTP Password. Connect with FileZilla or WinSCP.
Are my game servers backed up?
Game server backups are a paid add-on. Basic (weekly), Standard (daily) or Premium (every 6 hours) tiers include automatic and manual backups, stored offsite.
What games are supported?
We sell game servers for ARK, CS2, DayZ, Enshrouded, FiveM, Garry's Mod, Minecraft, Palworld, Project Zomboid, Rust, TF2, Terraria, Valheim and V Rising, plus custom builds.
Where are your game servers physically located?
Our game servers run in Montreal, Quebec (YUL1). Halifax (HFX1) is coming soon. Test your own ping with the Ping Our Network tool on our status page.
What ping/latency can I expect from your game servers?
Ping depends on your distance to our Montreal datacenter, your ISP's routing and wired vs Wi-Fi. See what each range feels like and how to lower it.
How does the Ping Our Network tool work, and is it accurate?
The Ping Our Network tool on our status page times 5 HTTPS requests to our Montreal infrastructure, drops the slowest and averages the rest. Game ping is usually lower.
How do I configure DDoS protection?
There's nothing to configure. Every game server includes always-on, firewall-based DDoS protection. If an attack keeps causing problems, open a support ticket.
Web Hosting
Setting Up Your First Website
Order hosting, point your domain, install WordPress or another app in one click, and get SSL working.
Email Hosting: Mailboxes, Forwarding and DNS Records
Create mailboxes, set up forwarding, and publish the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records that keep your mail out of the spam folder.
How do I access my web hosting control panel?
Web hosting is managed in the Unified Panel at unified.sableservers.com, with the same login as your billing. Sign in, then open Services, Web Hosting and select your plan.
How do I upload my website files?
Upload with the File Manager (Upload Files, into /public_html) or connect over SFTP on port 2812 using an FTP account you create in the panel. Plain FTP is not available.
How do I create email accounts?
Open your hosting plan, click Email Accounts, then Create Email. Use webmail or set up a mail app with IMAP 993 and SMTP 465. Settings are shown in the panel.
How do I install SSL certificates?
Let's Encrypt SSL is requested automatically once your domain's DNS points to us and renews 30 days before expiry. Turn on Force HTTPS in Settings to redirect visitors.
How do I access my website databases?
Open your hosting plan, click Databases, then Create Database. Use 172.20.0.1 as the host in your app. phpMyAdmin signs you in automatically from the panel.
Are my websites and emails backed up?
Yes. Web hosting includes free daily backups kept for 7 days, stored offsite. Create, restore and download backups yourself from the Backups page.
Can I install WordPress or other CMS?
Yes. One-Click Apps installs WordPress, WooCommerce, Drupal, Joomla, PrestaShop, OpenCart, phpBB, Nextcloud and more. You can also upload other PHP apps.
How many websites can I host?
It depends on your plan. Each plan has a limit on sites (separate websites) and aliases (extra names for your main site), shown on your plan's Domains page.
Do you register domains?
No, we don't register domains. Buy one from any registrar (we suggest Porkbun), add it on your plan's Domains page, then point it to us using the details shown there.
Billing
Understanding Your Invoice and Billing Cycles
How invoices, billing cycles, price lock, upgrades, account credit, auto-pay and late payment work in the Unified Panel.
Earning a Free Month: How Loyalty Works
12 months of service in a service family earns a free month. No points to track; the panel shows your progress in months.
Adding and Updating Payment Methods
Save a card, replace an expiring one, set the default, turn auto-pay on or off, or remove a card you no longer use.
How do I access my billing portal?
Billing is built into the Unified Panel. Log in (use Forgot password? the first time), then click Billing to view and pay invoices.
When will I be billed?
Choose monthly, quarterly (5% off), semi-annual (10% off) or annual (15% off). Renewal invoices come up to 7 days before the due date; cards on file are charged up to 3 days before.
What currency will I be charged in?
We always bill in Canadian dollars (CAD). US dollar prices on our websites are approximate. If your card isn't in CAD, your bank sets the exchange rate and may charge fees.
Do you have a loyalty program?
Every paid month of service earns progress. After 12 months, redeem a free month on a monthly-billed service in the same family from Loyalty Rewards in the Unified Panel.
How do I update my payment method?
In the Unified Panel, open Profile Settings, then Payment Methods. Click Add Card, enter your card, and tick Set as default payment method.
Do you offer refunds?
Cancel a new service within 30 days of activation and we refund the unused part of the term, prorated. After 30 days there are no refunds for the current term.
How do I cancel my service?
Open the service, go to its plan page, and click Cancel Service in the Danger Zone. Choose end of billing period, or immediately (data kept 7 days).
How do I view my invoices?
Click Billing in the Unified Panel to see your invoices. Filter by All Invoices, Unpaid or Paid, open one for details, and use Download PDF for a copy.
What happens if my payment fails?
If an automatic payment fails we email you and retry the card twice, about 12 hours apart. Unpaid 3 days after the due date, the service is suspended; unpaid 7 days after suspension, it is terminated.
Account
Managing API Keys
Create API keys for scripts and integrations, choose scopes, and revoke or rotate them safely.
Themes, Notifications and Personalization
Choose Dark, OLED Black or Light, set your notification preferences, and install the panel as an app.
How do I reset my password?
Click Forgot password? on the login page and use the emailed link within 1 hour, or change it under your profile menu → Security. VPS and mailbox passwords are separate.
How do I enable two-factor authentication?
Go to your profile menu → Security → Enable 2FA, confirm your password, scan the QR code with an authenticator app, enter the code and save your recovery codes.
How do I update my contact information?
Go to your profile menu → Profile Settings to update your name, company, phone and billing address. Email changes need your password and a confirmation link.
Is my data secure?
We isolate servers with KVM, include firewall-based DDoS protection and limit staff access. Use a strong password, turn on 2FA and keep your own backups.
Where is my data hosted?
Service data is stored in Canada: Montreal now, Halifax coming soon, and Toronto for object storage. Some payment and email providers may process account details in the US.
Do you have security certifications?
No. We don't hold third-party security certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2. Card payments are processed by Stripe and our Privacy Policy explains how we handle your data.
Network
Setting Up Private Networking with WireGuard
Every customer gets a private 10.N.0.0/24 network. Join VPS servers to it for safe internal traffic; a HomeLab VPS is reached only through it.
Adding Your Laptop or Phone as a WireGuard Peer
Reach your private servers from anywhere by adding your phone or laptop to your private network.
Managed Services
What's included in managed services?
Semi-Managed (CA$99/month per server) and Fully Managed (CA$299/month per server) add patching, monitoring, security hardening and backup management to a server you host with us.
What's the difference between semi-managed and fully managed?
Semi-Managed looks after the server: patches, monitoring, hardening and backups. Fully Managed adds OS and application management, security audits and a dedicated account manager.
How do I request support for managed servers?
Open a ticket in the Unified Panel: Support → Tickets → New Ticket. Choose Technical Support, set a priority and pick your managed server as the related service.
What response times can I expect?
Standard support aims to answer new tickets within 24 hours. Paid support plans added at checkout give faster first response. Quoted managed IT follows your signed quote.
Can you help migrate my existing infrastructure?
Yes. Migration is free with Semi-Managed and Fully Managed plans, including 30 days of extra support. Otherwise, open a Sales ticket for a quote.
Do you offer custom SLAs?
We don't offer uptime guarantees. You can add a paid support plan for faster response, and quoted business services set response times in the signed quote.
Support
How do I contact support?
Open a ticket in the Unified Panel: Support → Tickets → New Ticket. A person from our team in Nova Scotia answers. Discord is a community, not official support.
What are your support hours?
Open a ticket any time. Standard support is answered during business hours, with a first response target of 24 hours. Paid support plans extend the hours.
How quickly will I get a response?
Standard support aims to respond to new tickets within 24 hours. Paid support plans added at checkout give faster first response; managed plans include priority support.
Can I call you for support?
No. We don't offer phone support. Open a ticket in the Unified Panel and a person from our team in Nova Scotia answers.
How do I open a support ticket?
Go to Support → Tickets → New Ticket, choose a department and priority, pick the related service, describe the issue and click Submit Ticket.
Is Discord a support channel?
Discord is a community where other users may help, not an official support channel. For help with your account or services, open a ticket in the Unified Panel.
What information should I include in a ticket?
Name the affected service, describe what's wrong and when it started, list steps to reproduce and what you've tried, and attach screenshots or logs. Never include passwords.
Technical Information
Where are your servers located?
Montreal (YUL1) is live for VPS, game servers and web hosting. Halifax (HFX1) is coming soon. Object storage is in Toronto (CA-East) on Backblaze B2.
Do you have an uptime guarantee?
We don't promise an uptime percentage. We post planned maintenance on our status page, email affected customers and may give service credits at our discretion.
Do you provide DDoS protection?
Yes. Every service includes always-on, firewall-based DDoS protection at no extra cost. No protection stops every attack, so keep your own software updated.
What network speeds do you offer?
VPS plans get a 1 Gbps shared port and a monthly data transfer allowance; past it, speed is slowed until the period resets. Web hosting and game server transfer is shown on each plan.
Do you use NVMe storage?
New virtual server disks go on NVMe SSD drives, but we don't promise a specific RAID layout or speed. Keep your own backups of anything important.
Can I get a dedicated IP address?
VPS plans include 1 dedicated IPv4 (more can be bought, up to 5) and a free IPv6 /64. Web hosting and game servers use a shared IP. HomeLab VPS has no public IPv4.