How to connect to a VPS and upload files via FTP

Once your MU Online server grows beyond your home PC, you'll need a VPS (Virtual Private Server). This guide covers everything you need to connect to it and transfer files.

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) explained

WHAT RDP IS:

→ RDP is a Microsoft protocol that lets you control a remote Windows computer
  as if you were sitting in front of it
→ You see the server's desktop in a window on your PC
→ Everything you click and type is sent to the server
→ The server sends back the screen display
→ Standard port: 3389 (TCP)

MU ONLINE USE CASE:
→ You run the MuServer components (GameServer.exe, DataServer.exe, etc.)
  directly on the VPS desktop via RDP
→ You open SSMS on the VPS to manage the SQL Server database
→ You edit configuration .ini files using Notepad on the VPS desktop
→ Once everything is configured and running, you disconnect RDP
  and the server keeps running in the background

Connecting from Windows

STEP BY STEP — WINDOWS TO WINDOWS VPS:

1. Press Win + R → type "mstsc" → press Enter
   (or: Start → search "Remote Desktop Connection")

2. In the "Computer" field: type the VPS IP address
   → Example: 45.67.89.100
   → If the provider changed the RDP port: use 45.67.89.100:47899

3. Click "Connect"

4. A login window appears:
   → Username: Administrator (or whatever your provider set)
   → Password: the password from your VPS provider's panel
   → Click OK

5. A security certificate warning usually appears — click "Yes"
   (this is normal for a new connection)

6. The server's Windows desktop opens in a window on your screen

FIRST TIME SETUP ON THE VPS:
→ Change the Administrator password immediately to something strong
→ The default password from providers is often very simple
→ Right-click My Computer → Manage → Local Users and Groups → Users
   → Right-click Administrator → Set Password

Connecting from Mac

STEP BY STEP — MAC TO WINDOWS VPS:

1. Install "Microsoft Remote Desktop" from the Mac App Store (free)

2. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop → "Add PC"

3. PC Name: [VPS IP] or [VPS IP]:[port]
   Example: 45.67.89.100 or 45.67.89.100:47899

4. User Account: click "Add User Account"
   → Username: Administrator
   → Password: your VPS password

5. Click "Add" then double-click the new PC entry to connect

6. Accept the certificate warning → the VPS desktop appears

Securing RDP access

CRITICAL RDP SECURITY STEPS:

WHY THIS MATTERS:
→ Port 3389 (default RDP) is scanned constantly by automated bots
→ Thousands of servers running RDP with weak passwords are compromised every week
→ Ransomware attacks and crypto miners typically enter through unprotected RDP

1. CHANGE THE DEFAULT RDP PORT:
   → On the VPS: regedit → HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
   → Find "PortNumber" → change from 3389 to something like 47899 or 53211 (decimal)
   → Windows Firewall: create a new inbound rule allowing TCP on the new port
   → Disconnect and reconnect using the new port

2. STRONG ADMINISTRATOR PASSWORD:
   → Minimum 16 characters with uppercase, numbers, symbols
   → Something like: M!VPS2024#KoraServer4 is much harder to brute-force

3. WINDOWS FIREWALL — RESTRICT RDP SOURCE IP:
   → If you always connect from the same IP: restrict the RDP rule to your IP only
   → Windows Defender Firewall → Inbound Rules → Remote Desktop → Properties
     → Scope → Remote IP addresses → "These IP addresses" → add your home IP

File transfer with FileZilla (FTP/SFTP)

FILEZILLA SETUP:

FTP IS USED FOR:
→ Uploading the MU Online website files to shared PHP hosting (Linux)
→ Downloading backup files from the server to your PC

NOTE: For uploading the MuServer files to a VPS, you can also just
copy-paste within the RDP session using the "drives" feature (see below).
FTP is mainly for web hosting that doesn't have RDP.

STEP 1 — INSTALL FILEZILLA CLIENT:
→ Download from filezilla-project.org → "FileZilla Client" (not Server)
→ Install on your PC (not on the server)

STEP 2 — CONNECT TO YOUR HOSTING:
→ Top bar: Host = your hosting IP or domain
→ Username = your FTP username (from cPanel or hosting panel)
→ Password = your FTP password
→ Port = 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP — prefer this)
→ Click "Quickconnect"

STEP 3 — NAVIGATE AND UPLOAD:
→ Left panel = your PC
→ Right panel = your hosting server
→ Navigate left to your website folder
→ Navigate right to public_html or www on the hosting
→ Drag files from left to right to upload
→ Wait for "Transfer queue" at the bottom to complete

Sharing files between PC and VPS via RDP

RDP DRIVE SHARING (easier than FTP for VPS):

INSTEAD OF FTP, YOU CAN SHARE A LOCAL DRIVE THROUGH THE RDP SESSION:

1. In Remote Desktop Connection → "Show Options" → "Local Resources" tab
2. Click "More..." under "Local devices and resources"
3. Check "Drives" → select the drive letter where your MuServer files are
4. Connect to the VPS

5. On the VPS, open File Explorer
6. You'll see a new drive: "C on [YourPCName]" or similar
7. Copy files from your shared local drive to the VPS normally

THIS METHOD:
→ Transfers files at your internet connection speed
→ No FTP software needed
→ Easiest way to get MuServer files onto a fresh VPS

Common connection problems

TROUBLESHOOTING:

PROBLEM: "Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer"
→ Cause 1: Wrong IP — verify the IP in your VPS provider's panel
→ Cause 2: VPS is not running — check in the provider's control panel
→ Cause 3: Port 3389 is blocked — try enabling it in the provider's network firewall
→ Cause 4: The port was changed — try port 47899 or ask your provider

PROBLEM: "Your credentials did not work"
→ Cause: Password is wrong, or it was reset by the provider
→ Solution: Log into your provider's panel and reset the server password

PROBLEM: FileZilla shows "Connection timed out"
→ Cause 1: Wrong IP or port
→ Cause 2: FTP is blocked by firewall — check if port 21 (or 22 for SFTP) is open
→ Cause 3: Wrong credentials — check the username/password in cPanel

PROBLEM: RDP shows the VPS but it's running slowly
→ Cause: Your internet connection or the VPS is overloaded
→ Solution: Reduce RDP display quality: in "Remote Desktop Connection"
  → "Experience" tab → select "Modem (56 kbps)" — removes visual effects that use bandwidth

Continue with the Windows or Linux for MU server tutorial (for understanding what OS your VPS needs), the backup tutorial (for regularly copying database backups off the VPS to your PC via FTP), and the MuServer configuration tutorial (for what to do once you're connected to the VPS and ready to configure the server).

Frequently asked questions