NOTE

We recommend installing the CloudRay Agent for full functionality including real-time metrics and secure orchestration. Use SSH-based access only if the Agent cannot be installed.

CloudRay allows you to securely connect to servers using SSH-based access, ideal for situations where installing the CloudRay Agent is not possible or desired. Make sure you’ve added your SSH key to CloudRay before proceeding.

Add a Server Using SSH

Follow these steps to add a server using SSH-based access:

  1. Navigate to “Machines” in your CloudRay dashboard
  2. Click “Add Machine” and scroll down and click on “SSH”
Screenshot for generating an SSH Key

  1. Fill in the server details:

    • Machine Name: A recognizable name (e.g., web-01)
    • IP Address or Hostname
    • Access Method: Choose “Use SSH Key” or “Use SSH Password”
    • Server Key: Select the SSH key you previously added to CloudRay (if using key-based access)

  2. Click “Create Machine” to finish

Your server is now registered and CloudRay will initiate connections using the selected SSH credentials.

NOTE

SSH connections do not require installing the CloudRay Agent, but functionalities like metric collection, real-time alerts, and auto-healing are limited.

Supported Providers

SSH-based connections work with any server that supports OpenSSH, including:

  • Bare-metal servers
  • Virtual machines (VMs)
  • Cloud providers like AWS, DigitalOcean, GCP, Azure, and others

Best Practices

  • Use SSH keys over passwords for stronger security
  • Limit root access and use dedicated users when possible
  • Firewall your server to allow SSH access only from trusted IPs

What’s Next?

You can now use CloudRay to run automated scripts, push configuration files, and manage infrastructure remotely—even without installing an agent.