How to connect to a VPS with SSH (Windows,OS X,Linux) ?
Connecting with SSH (Secure Shell)
Understanding SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. It's commonly used for remote command-line login 1 and remote command execution.
macOS and Linux - macOS and most Linux distributions have SSH built-in, making it very straightforward.
Using Terminal:
Windows - Windows does not have SSH built-in by default, but there are several excellent options:
Windows Terminal and OpenSSH
Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell.
Use the same SSH command as in macOS/Linux: ssh root@vps_ip_address -p 22
Congrats you have logged in to your VPS
PuTTY:
Download and install PuTTY from https://www.putty.org/.
Open PuTTY.
In the "Host Name (or IP address)" field, enter your VPS's IP address (or hostname).
In the "Port" field, enter the SSH port (usually 22).
Click "Open."
If this is your first time connecting, you'll see a security alert. Click "Accept."
Enter your username and password when prompted.
Important Security Considerations
Use SSH Keys: SSH keys are significantly more secure than passwords.
Disable Password Authentication: Once you've set up SSH keys, disable password authentication on your VPS to prevent brute-force attacks. Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file and set PasswordAuthentication no. Then restart the SSH service.
Change Default SSH Port: Consider changing the default SSH port (22) to a higher, non-standard port to reduce automated attacks.
Firewall: Configure your VPS firewall (e.g., ufw on Ubuntu) to allow only necessary SSH connections.
Keep Your System Updated: Regularly update your VPS and local machine to patch security vulnerabilities.
Strong Passphrases: If you do use a password, use a strong, unique one.
Limit Root Access: Create a non-root user for regular tasks and use sudo for administrative commands.
By following these steps and security considerations, you can securely connect to your VPS from any major operating system.
Understanding SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. It's commonly used for remote command-line login 1 and remote command execution.
Prerequisites
VPS Details: You'll need the following information of your VPS:
IP address : Check Your Email
Username : root
Password : Check Your Email
SSH port : 22Connecting via SSH
macOS and Linux - macOS and most Linux distributions have SSH built-in, making it very straightforward.
Using Terminal:
1. Open your Terminal application.
2. Use the following command, replacing the placeholders with your actual VPS details: `ssh username@vps_ip_address -p port_number`
3. If this is your first time connecting to the VPS, you'll be prompted to verify the host's authenticity. Type "yes" and press Enter.
4. Enter your password when prompted.Windows - Windows does not have SSH built-in by default, but there are several excellent options:
Windows Terminal and OpenSSH
Windows 10 and later versions include OpenSSH.
Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell.
Use the same SSH command as in macOS/Linux: ssh root@vps_ip_address -p 22
Congrats you have logged in to your VPS
PuTTY:
PuTTY is a popular, free SSH client for Windows.
Download and install PuTTY from https://www.putty.org/.
Open PuTTY.
In the "Host Name (or IP address)" field, enter your VPS's IP address (or hostname).
In the "Port" field, enter the SSH port (usually 22).
Click "Open."
If this is your first time connecting, you'll see a security alert. Click "Accept."
Enter your username and password when prompted.
Important Security Considerations
Use SSH Keys: SSH keys are significantly more secure than passwords.
Disable Password Authentication: Once you've set up SSH keys, disable password authentication on your VPS to prevent brute-force attacks. Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file and set PasswordAuthentication no. Then restart the SSH service.
Change Default SSH Port: Consider changing the default SSH port (22) to a higher, non-standard port to reduce automated attacks.
Firewall: Configure your VPS firewall (e.g., ufw on Ubuntu) to allow only necessary SSH connections.
Keep Your System Updated: Regularly update your VPS and local machine to patch security vulnerabilities.
Strong Passphrases: If you do use a password, use a strong, unique one.
Limit Root Access: Create a non-root user for regular tasks and use sudo for administrative commands.
By following these steps and security considerations, you can securely connect to your VPS from any major operating system.
Updated on: 22/03/2025
Thank you!