Managing your VPS power in Nebula Core is straightforward, but the options can trip up new users. Shutdown and Power Off both stop your server – but they do it very differently. Choosing wrong risks data loss or corruption, especially on busy setups like game servers or databases.
This guide breaks down the differences, when to use each, and how to access them. Perfect for beginners – safe powering every time!
Quick Overview: The Key Differences
- Shutdown (Graceful) — Sends a polite "please shut down" signal (ACPI) to your OS. The guest handles closing apps, flushing data, and stopping cleanly – just like
shutdown -hnow inside the VPS. - Power Off (Force/Hard) — Cuts power immediately, like yanking the cord on a physical machine. No warning – instant stop, no matter what's running.
| Action | Method | Data Safety | Use Case Example | Risk if Misused |
| Shutdown | Graceful (ACPI signal) | High (OS cleans up) | Normal daily stops, updates | Rare - only if OS hangs |
| Power Off | Immediate (QEMU force) | Medium (potential loss) | Stuck/frozen VPS, emergency stop | File corruption, unsaved data |
Bottom line: Always try Shutdown first – it's safer 99% of the time.
When to Use Each
- Use Shutdown:
- Routine maintenance (e.g., after updates).
- Saving disk writes/flushing caches.
- Databases, web servers, or file-heavy apps.
- Before snapshots/backups for consistency.
- Use Power Off:
- VPS completely frozen/unresponsive (no SSH/console).
- Quick emergency stop (e.g., runaway process maxing resources).
- Testing hardware-like failures (rare).
- When graceful fails after timeout.
Pro Tip: Nebula Core often waits 1-5 minutes on Shutdown before forcing – check status!
How to Access Power Controls in Nebula Core
- Log into MyRack > Services > Your VPS > Launch Nebula Core.
- Dashboard > Overview tab.
- Options you'll see:
- Boot → Powers on.
- Shutdown → Graceful stop.
- Restart → Graceful reboot (tries shutdown first).
- Power Off → Hard stop.
- Rebuild → Destroys and rebuilds the VPS.
- Click > Confirm if prompted > Watch status/logs.
Console Bonus: If graceful hangs, open noVNC Console – log in and run shutdown -h now manually.
Troubleshooting: Power Issues?
| Issue | Fix |
| Shutdown hangs forever | Wait 5 minutes, then Power Off. Check console/VNC for stuck processes (kill if needed). |
| Power Off corrupts data | Rare - but run fsck on next boot (Linux) or chkdsk (Windows) |
| No response to either | Hypervisor glitch? Open a ticket with us - we'll check the underlying node. |
| Button grayed out | VPS in transition (e.g. migrating) - refresh or wait. |
| Accidental Power Off | Restore from snapshot (Nebula Core > Backups) |
Bonus: Best Practices
- Graceful always first → Train the habit.
- Schedules → Auto-shutdowns via scripts inside VPS.
- Monitoring → Graphs in Nebula Core spot hangs early.
- Windows VPS → Shutdown more reliable (uses guest agent sometimes).
- Reboot vs Restart → Same graceful process – use either.
Quick Recap (Cheat Sheet)
| Action | Best For | Safety Level |
| Shutdown | Everyday stops | Safe & Clean |
| Power Off | Emergencies only | Risky |
Pick wisely – graceful keeps your data happy!
Need Help?
Weird behavior?
- Screenshot Nebula Core power tab and contact us
Power mastered!
Stable stops, happy VPS – scale without scares.
