SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted command-line access to your hosting server. It is essential for advanced tasks such as running scripts, managing files, and troubleshooting.
Prerequisites
- Your hosting plan must include SSH access.
- SSH must be enabled for your account (check your control panel or contact support).
- You need an SSH client on your computer.
SSH Clients
- macOS and Linux: Terminal is built-in. No additional software needed.
- Windows: Use PuTTY (free), Windows Terminal, or the built-in OpenSSH client in Windows 10 and later.
Connecting via SSH
1. Open your terminal or SSH client.
2. Enter the following command:
ssh username@yourdomain.com -p 22
3. Replace "username" with your hosting account username.
4. Replace "yourdomain.com" with your domain or server IP.
5. When prompted, enter your password.
6. You are now connected to your server.
Using SSH Keys (Recommended)
SSH keys provide more secure authentication than passwords:
1. Generate a key pair on your local computer:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
2. When prompted, save the key to the default location.
3. Optionally set a passphrase for additional security.
4. Copy the public key to your server:
ssh-copy-id username@yourdomain.com
5. You can now connect without entering a password.
Common SSH Commands
- ls — List files in the current directory
- cd /path/to/directory — Change directory
- pwd — Show current directory path
- cp source destination — Copy a file
- mv source destination — Move or rename a file
- rm filename — Delete a file
- mkdir dirname — Create a directory
- cat filename — Display file contents
- nano filename — Edit a file in the terminal
- tar -czf backup.tar.gz /path — Create a compressed archive
- tar -xzf backup.tar.gz — Extract an archive
- du -sh * — Show disk usage of files and directories
- top — View running processes and resource usage
Security Best Practices
- Use SSH keys instead of passwords whenever possible.
- Never share your SSH credentials.
- Disconnect when you are done (type "exit" or press Ctrl+D).
- Use a strong, unique password if key-based authentication is not an option.
- Keep your SSH client software up to date.