# Cloud Servers: Picking, Buying and Using

> **Last verified**: 2026-10-19 · 📄 Per qcode.cc

A QCode cloud server is an overseas machine sold on its own: once it is ready you get a KVM host with a dedicated public IPv4 and full root access, and you administer the system and the data yourself. It is a separate product from the AI service; the two only share the account and the balance — so running Claude Code or Codex on the box does **not** mean you have to buy an AI plan as well.

Product page: <https://qcode.cc/en/cloud>

## What a cloud server is

- **A dedicated public IPv4**: one per server, assigned when the server is ready, and it cannot be changed. It is shown in your connection details.
- **KVM with full root access**: you administer the system and the data.
- **Lines in five countries**: Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the United States and Germany, one or more lines per region. Some lines may show "Restocking".
- **No hosting panel bundled**: the system image is a clean operating system; what you put on it is up to you.
- **One balance with the AI service**: Alipay, WeChat, a bank card or cryptocurrency — both sides spend the same money.

Three things decide how smooth your first purchase is: which line you pick, whether you try one first, and how you keep the root password.

## Picking a line

The configuration page has a small "Help me pick a line" helper that asks two questions: **where are your visitors** (Mainland China / Outside mainland China / Both) and **what matters more** (Lower price / More bandwidth / Stable access from mainland China). The page puts it this way: "Two questions. We only highlight lines that may fit. We do not choose for you." — so what it gives you is a highlight, not a verdict.

The table to compare lines with is the "Compare lines" table further down the same page, which compares by **region, line, what it is for, bandwidth type, and the starting price**. The lines listed there at the moment are:

| Region | Line | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong · Tri-carrier Direct | Mainland China |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong · International Bandwidth | International bandwidth |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong · IIJ International | International bandwidth |
| Japan | Japan · Tri-carrier Direct | Mainland China |
| Japan | Japan · SoftBank | International bandwidth · Lower price |
| Korea | Korea · Tri-carrier Direct | Mainland China |
| Korea | Korea · International Bandwidth | International bandwidth |
| Germany | Germany · CU 9929 | Mainland China |
| United States | US · Los Angeles | Lower price |

**The starting prices are the ones in the line comparison on qcode.cc/en/cloud**.

## The 1-day trial

If you are not sure which line you want, start one and try it for a day:

- **A trial lasts 1 day (24 hours) and is charged for the size you pick** — it is a paid trial, billed from your balance.
- **When it ends, the server is deleted and the data is not kept**, so do not put anything important on it.
- **During the trial you can keep it from the panel** by picking 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, and it then stays as a normal server.
- **Each account can have only one trial server at a time.**

## Ordering and delivery

1. **Pick the region, line, size, system and term.** The network step always includes 1 dedicated public IPv4.
2. **Set the root password.** The page is explicit: "The password is encrypted in your browser. We do not keep the plaintext. After delivery you can reset it from the panel." That is why you should **save it yourself** — the panel offers "Download as .txt" and "I have saved this password", and you can reset it later from the panel. If you lose it, it can be reset.
3. **Pay from your balance** — CNY balance or USD balance, both work. The balance can be used for AI service and cloud servers.
4. **Provisioning**: usually within a few minutes. If provisioning fails, or the server is not delivered within 2 hours of the order, the full amount goes back to your balance.

## Connecting and running the server

```bash
ssh root@<IP>
```

Replace the address in the example with the IP from the dashboard, and log in with the root password you set when ordering.

What the dashboard lets you do: check status, start, stop, reboot, renew, and reset the password. The server image does not include a hosting panel.

**Changing the line or the size is not possible online yet** — order another server if you need a different line or size.

## How it pairs with the AI service

Cloud servers and AI services are sold separately; they share the account and the balance. Install Claude Code or Codex on the server, call the models with your QCode key, and the model side is billed per token, with per-model rates listed on [qcode.cc/models](https://qcode.cc/models). The full walkthrough is in [Run agents on a cloud server](/docs/usage/cloud-server-agents).

## Related pages

- [Run agents on a cloud server](/docs/usage/cloud-server-agents) — install Claude Code / Codex, set the key and the endpoint, keep tasks running after you disconnect
- [Cloud server billing and rules](/docs/reference/cloud-billing) — terms, automatic renewal, turning a trial into a paid server, refunds and the acceptable use policy
- [How to Choose a Plan](/docs/getting-started/choose-a-plan) — personal plan, Pay-as-you-go Packs and cloud servers side by side
- [Pay-as-you-go Packs](/docs/reference/payg-packs) — a one-time quota when you do not want a monthly plan
- [Payment Methods Overview](/docs/reference/payment-methods) — how to top up the balance