IP blocked by fail2ban — how to unblock

Summary

If your IP was blocked by fail2ban after several failed login attempts: connect via VNC/IPMI console and unblock your IP.

Applies to:
✔ VPS
✔ Dedicated servers
✔ Linux

Symptoms

• SSH connection hangs or returns "Connection refused"
• Server responds to ping but not to SSH
• Connection works from a different IP

Step 1: connect via VNC/IPMI

VPS: open VNC console in the control panel.

Dedicated server: connect via IPMI.

Step 2: check fail2ban status

fail2ban-client status

fail2ban-client status sshd

Find your IP in the "Banned IP list" section.

Step 3: unblock the IP

fail2ban-client set sshd unbanip YOUR_IP

Step 4: add IP to the whitelist

Create or edit /etc/fail2ban/jail.local:

[DEFAULT]
ignoreip = 127.0.0.1/8 YOUR_IP

systemctl restart fail2ban

Alternative: unblock via iptables

iptables -L -n --line-numbers | grep YOUR_IP

iptables -D f2b-sshd LINE_NUMBER

Verification

ssh root@SERVER_IP

If the IP keeps getting blocked, check for brute-force attacks from your IP (your computer may be compromised). If the problem persists, open a support ticket.