Linux Rescue Mode
The Linux rescue system is a minimal Ubuntu-based environment that loads into your server's RAM, independent of the installed drives. Use it to reset the root password, repair GRUB, check filesystems, back up data or fix network lockouts.
What is the Linux Rescue Mode?
The rescue mode is a custom-built Linux environment that boots independently from the OS installed on your hard drives. Because it runs entirely in RAM, it does not modify any data on your server without your direct input. It provides full access to your server's disks, allowing you to perform advanced maintenance on nearly any installed operating system — including other Linux distributions and Windows.
Common Use Cases
Reset root password
Recover access to a server with a lost or forgotten
root password.Repair GRUB bootloader
Reinstall or fix a broken GRUB bootloader that prevents the server from booting.
Filesystem check
Run
fsck to detect and repair filesystem errors on unmounted drives.Back up data
Copy important data off a non-bootable server using
rsync over SSH.Fix lockouts
Correct network or firewall misconfigurations that have blocked normal server access.
Partition management
Install a new operating system or resize and manage partitions from a clean environment.
Guides
Reset Root Password
Reset a lost or forgotten root password using chroot — for RAID and non-RAID servers.
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Repair GRUB Bootloader
Reinstall a broken GRUB bootloader via chroot so your server can boot again.
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Repair Filesystems (fsck)
Run a filesystem check to detect and repair disk errors on unmounted partitions.
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Back Up Data
Mount your server's drive and copy data to an external server using rsync over SSH.
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Using chroot
Learn how to set up a chroot environment to enter and work within your main OS from rescue mode.
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