Logging Into Your Server Using SSH

Your Web Hosting Hub account gives you the ability to connect to an account via SSH. To do this, you will need to use SSH Keys, which is different and more secure than a normal username/password setup. To do this you must generate an SSH key, then convert and download it, and finally connect using an SSH client. This article specifically uses the PuTTY SSH client. (download PuTTY here)

Mac users can also use SSH! Follow our full guide for SSH on Mac for more information.

Generating an SSH Key

1. Log into your cPanel interface.
2. Click SSH Access located under the Security category.
3. Click on the Manage SSH Keys.
4. Now click on the field named Generate a new Key.
5. Keeping the default key name is fine. Now create and enter a strong password for both password fields.
6. Click on the Generate Key button. You should see a message stating "The system successfully generated your key".
7. From here click on the Go Back button.
8. Now click on the Manage Authorization button.
9. You will now see a message stating your key is not currently authorized. Click the Authorize button. The message should now change to say the key is authorized.

Downloading and Converting the SSH Key

1. Download and install the PuTTYGen program on your local computer.
2. Login to your cPanel interface.
3. Click SSH Access located under the Security category.
4. Click on the Manage SSH Keys.
5. Find the Private Keys section. Click View/Download next to your Private key.
6. From here, click on the Download key button.
7. On your local computer, open PuttyGen and click on the Load button.
8. Now, click on the PuTTY Private Key Files (*.ppk) dropdown menu and change it to All Files(*.*) and then select the id_dsa file you previously downloaded to your computer. Next, click the Open button.
9. A box will appear and you will enter the password for your key. Then click OK.
10. A box will appear with a message saying the key was successfully imported. Clock Ok.
11. Now, click the Save private key button. This will download your private key file.

Connect Using SSH With PuTTY

1. Open PuTTY and click SSH and Auth located under the Connection option.
2. Click Browse under Private key file for authentication, select the private key you downloaded to your computer previously, and click Open.
3. Next, click Session and enter 2222 for the port.
4. For Host Name enter either your domain name, or shared Ip address. Click Open to connect. If a PuTTY Security Alert appears, click Yes
5. You will now see Login As. Enter your cPanel username and hit Enter.
6. Next, enter the password for your key file and press Enter. PuTTY will not display any information on the screen when you are entering the password.

Now you have successfully connected to your hosting server using SSH. If you have any issues, please review the steps above and contact out Live Support team if you need additional assistance.