In short: SSH is a secure protocol that lets you connect to your server remotely and run commands over an encrypted connection. On Mac or Linux, run ssh user@server-ip in the Terminal; on Windows, use the same command in PowerShell or use the PuTTY app.
What you need #
- The server IP address or hostname.
- A username, such as root or your cPanel username.
- A password or an SSH key.
- The SSH port (22 by default, unless it was changed).
Connect from Mac or Linux #
- Open the Terminal app.
- Type
ssh [email protected], replacing the user and IP with yours. If the port is not 22, add-p 2222with your port. - The first time, type yes to trust the server fingerprint.
- Enter your password. Nothing appears while you type; that is normal.
Connect from Windows #
Option 1: PowerShell. Windows 10 and 11 include an SSH client. Open PowerShell and use the same command: ssh [email protected].
Option 2: PuTTY. Download PuTTY, enter the server IP in Host Name, set the port, choose SSH and click Open. Then log in with your username and password.
Use SSH keys instead of passwords #
SSH keys are safer than passwords. Create a key pair on your computer with ssh-keygen, then copy the public key to the server with ssh-copy-id [email protected]. After that you can log in without typing a password.
Security tips #
- Disable password login for root once your key works.
- Consider changing the default SSH port.
- Use a firewall such as CSF to block repeated failed logins.
Prefer not to manage the server yourself? Our server management team can secure and maintain it for you.
