> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://gcore-doc-1046.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect to a Virtual Machine via the Gcore customer portal

You can connect to a Gcore Virtual Machine (VM) by using the [VNC console](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing) in the Gcore Customer Portal. This method is available for Windows and Linux VMs. The method allows you to establish a connection even if a Virtual Machine has no internet access, which is useful if you experience internet connectivity issues.

Connecting to a Linux Virtual Machine from the Gcore Customer Portal is only possible if you have [configured a password while creating a Virtual Machine](/cloud/virtual-instances/customize-initial-setup-for-your-instance#set-a-password-for-an-instance). If you didn't set a password, you'll need to connect to the VM using SSH keys.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Connect to a Windows Virtual Machine">
    <Info>
      **Info**

      On Virtual Machines with Windows OS, you can't use the password parameter both in the Access and "User data" fields. Since the Access field is required, configuring user data on a Windows VM is not possible. Read more about the permitted VM parameters in our [API docs](https://api.gcore.com/docs/cloud#tag/Instances/operation/InstanceCreateSetV2.post).
    </Info>

    To connect to a Virtual Machine:

    1\. In the Customer Portal, navigate to **Cloud** > **Virtual Instances**.

    2\. Find the VM you want to access and click its name to open it.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/cloud-instances.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=e82f0dcc856a60ed58a9433e38d9e8af" alt="A Virtual Machines tab in the Gcore Customer Portal" width="5140" height="2008" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/cloud-instances.png" />
    </Frame>

    3\. Next to your VM's IP address, select the **Access to Console** link. The VNC console will open.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-access-to-console.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=9363a931bbb8c06d01768411c0e58302" alt="Overview of a Virtual Machine with the Access to console link highlighted" width="4304" height="840" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-access-to-console.png" />
    </Frame>

    4\. In the top-right corner of the screen, click **SendCtrlAltDel**.

    5\. Enter the password you configured during VM creation. The login for all VMs is "Admin".

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-login.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=121d396d760fe27a3a9201742b1a4cc7" alt="Windows login screen" width="3128" height="2032" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-login.png" />
    </Frame>

    You've successfully connected to the VM.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-connected.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=f390784be8a91b7bd0d74226ef4db2a2" alt="Windows desktop" width="3172" height="2408" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/windows-connected.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Connect to a Linux Virtual Machine">
    If you [didn't set a password](/cloud/virtual-instances/customize-initial-setup-for-your-instance#set-a-password-for-an-instance) when creating a Linux VM, you can't connect to that VM via the Gcore Customer Portal. Instead, [connect with SSH keys](/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-via-ssh).

    <Info>
      **Info**

      If your VM is located only in a private subnet, the [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol](/cloud/virtual-instances/create-an-instance#enable-DHCP) must be enabled in the settings of this subnet so you can log in with a password.
    </Info>

    To connect to a Virtual Machine:

    1\. In the Gcore Customer Portal, navigate to **Cloud** > **Virtual Instances**.

    2\. Find the VM you want to access and click its name to open it.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/cloud-instances.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=e82f0dcc856a60ed58a9433e38d9e8af" alt="A virtual instances tab in the Gcore Customer Portal" width="5140" height="2008" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/cloud-instances.png" />
    </Frame>

    3\. Next to your VM's IP address, select the **Access to Console** link. The VNC console will open.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-access-to-console.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=ae82e9f5a4af7cb20ce93c6af981075a" alt="Overview of a Virtual Machine with the Access to console link highlighted" width="4300" height="832" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-access-to-console.png" />
    </Frame>

    4\. Log in using the following credentials:

    * **login** : This information is displayed next to the **Access to Console** link in the format `[login]@[ip-of your-VM]`. Typically, the login is the same as the name of the OS. For example, `ubuntu`.

    * **password** : Enter the password you configured in the user data field in the "Additional options" section when creating the instance.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-credentials.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=341e62766b2524ac9a9af1621fd28730" alt="Ubuntu terminal displaying login information" width="2576" height="576" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-credentials.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Tip>
      **Tip**

      If you forgot your password, you can find it in the system by connecting to the VM via SSH. Run the `sudo cat /var/lib/cloud/instance/user-data.txt` command and view a password in the following line: `password: [your password]`. If you entered the password as a hash, you will see the hash on the screen. In this case, you will not be able to check the password.
    </Tip>

    You've successfully connected to the Virtual Machine.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1046/o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L/images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-connected.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=o7wA0BxBPtk_BB2L&q=85&s=e33fa208a394d5dda95a6cb741356e85" alt="Ubuntu terminal displaying successful connection to an instance" width="2576" height="1644" data-path="images/docs/cloud/virtual-instances/connect/connect-to-your-instance-via-control-panel/linux-connected.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
