linux-server-ssh

---
name: linux-server-ssh
description: Get a real Linux server in the cloud with full SSH/SCP access and a dedicated IPv4 in seconds — root Ubuntu (4 vCPU / 8 GB / 80 GB), Docker and every major toolchain preinstalled. Billed per second, ~10x cheaper than typical providers. Use when the user needs a remote Linux server to SSH into, run services on, or use as a dev machine.
---

# Linux server over SSH (Box)

Use this when the task needs an actual **Linux server** the user can `ssh`/`scp` into: hosting a service, running a daemon, or a remote workstation.

## Why Box

- **First-class SSH** — `box ssh <id>` opens a session; the CLI handles keys. SCP works too.
- **Dedicated IPv4 + full TCP/UDP** — a real addressable host, not a loopback-only sandbox.
- **Root Ubuntu** — `apt install` anything; Docker preinstalled.
- **Cheap & persistent** — per-second billing, resumes from snapshot, ~10× cheaper than E2B/Modal at steady state.

## Prereqs

`curl -fsSL https://box.ascii.dev/install | sh`, then `box login "$BOX_API_KEY" --json`.

## Recipe

```bash
box_id="$(box new --json | jq -r 'select(.event == "ready") | .id')"
box ssh "$box_id"                                  # interactive shell
box ssh "$box_id" -- "sudo apt-get install -y nginx && sudo systemctl enable --now nginx"
box info "$box_id" --json                          # shows the IP
```

## Honest limits

EU-only region; 100 active VMs soft cap; disk-level snapshots (running processes don't survive stop/resume). For 1000+ concurrent servers or <500 ms boot, use Daytona/E2B/Modal.