In the ECS console, you can log in to an instance that runs the Linux operating system through ECS Terminal or VNC.

Limits

The number of users that can remain logged in to an ECS instance varies based on the login method and user type. See details in the following table:

User type	VNC	ECS Terminal
Cloud platform account	Multiple authorized accounts (primary accounts or IAM users) can log in to an instance at the same time. The number of accounts is not limited. tip When multiple accounts are logged in, they can see the same console and share all actions.	A primary account (including all IAM users under it) can have a maximum of 100 remote connections open at the same time.
Operating system user	Only one user can log in to an instance at a time.	You can log in as multiple users from different browser tabs at the same time.

Prerequisites

Make sure that the ECS instance to log in meets the conditions in the Login restrictions.

Login procedure

ECS Terminal (recommended)

VNC

tip

Convenient interaction: You can directly copy or paste text when logging in to the instance with ECS Terminal. Therefore, we recommend you use ECS Terminal to enjoy a smooth user experience. ECS Terminal is applicable to scenarios where the instance is in the Running state and the operating system runs normally. If you use key for authentication, we recommend you use ECS Terminal for login.

ECS Terminal offers multiple practical features, such as AI conversations, command completion, and error correction. For specific steps, refer toIntroduction to login tools.

On the remote login page, configure login information by referring to the table below.

Configuration item	Note
Port	When you log in to a Linux instance, SSH uses its default port (22). Make sure the security group associated with your instance allows inbound TCP traffic on port 22. tip If you need to change the connection port of your target instance, refer to Changing the ECS default remote port. After this, you can log in to the instance with the updated port. If the security group associated with the instance does not allow the corresponding port, refer to Viewing/Modifying security group access rules, or Changing security group to complete the operation.
Username	The default username for Linux instances is root. tip You can also create a new user and log in with a custom username.
Authentication method	Password: The login password is the password set when you create the instance. If you forget your password, reset the password first. Key: If the instance is associated with a key pair, the name/ID of the key pair appears in the "Attach Key" section. Then click theicon to upload the corresponding private key for login. If you have lost the private key, or no key pair is associated with the instance, you need to associate a key pair with the instance before logging in. tip In addition to the above methods, for instances created from a custom image or shared image, you can also use the password or key pair preset in the image to log in to the instance. Learn more

You can check "Save the log in information and log in credentials, and quickly log in next time.". Then, click "Login".

If login fails, you can click "Diagnosis now" or on the remote login page. Then, use the "Instance Diagnosis" feature for quick troubleshooting. You can also refer to What should I do if I cannot remotely connect to the instance? for troubleshooting.