Connecting via SSH to your server

Introduction

Secure Shell (SSH) is a UNIX-based command interface and protocol for securely getting access to a remote computer. SSH is actually a suite of three utilities - slogin, ssh, and scp - that are secure versions of the earlier UNIX utilities, rlogin, rsh, and rcp. SSH commands are encrypted and secure in several ways. Both ends of the client/server connection are authenticated using a digital certificate, and passwords are protected by being encrypted.

SSH allows you to connect to your server securely and perform Linux command-line operations.

Instructions

Enable SSH access

For security reasons, your (gs) Grid-Service comes with SSH access disabled by default. Here are instructions for enabling SSH access:

1. Log into your AccountCenter and click on your primary domain.
2. Click on Server Administrator.
   
3. Set the SSH option to Enabled and click Save.
   

NOTE:

This option enables SSH for the Server Administrator user only. This is the only (gs) Grid-Service SSH user with wide-reaching permissions. For information regarding SSH for sub-ftp users, please see this article.

Connect to the server

You will first need to choose an SSH client.

• Mac OS X includes the SSH client Terminal by default.
• Windows-based Operating Systems do not come with an SSH client by default. We recommend PuTTY. For information, please see: Using SSH in PuTTY (Windows).
• Linux distributions include support for SSH by default as well. Simply start up a terminal.

Login credentials

You should use the following information to log into the server via SSH (replace 00000 with your site number):

• Server: s00000.gridserver.com
• Username: example.com
• Password: This is the same as your Server Administrator FTP password. Read this article if you need to reset this password.

NOTE:

You can use "serveradmin@example.com" as your username if you want to, but it isn't necessary. If you do decide to use the longer version of the username, be sure to replace the @ symbol with % instead in the first part of the username, if you are using Terminal to connect. Otherwise, Terminal will misinterpret everything after the first @ as the name of the server.

So, if you are using Terminal, you should type:

ssh serveradmin%example.com@example.com

This syntax also works for sub-FTP SSH users.

If you are new to command-line interfaces, you may want to get familiar with some of the commands first.

It is standard to hit "Enter" after each command, to execute it after you finish typing.

PuTTY is a free software application for Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, and 7 which can be used to make an SSH connection to your server. You can download the application at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html.

For detailed instructions on using PuTTY, please read our article on SSH in PuTTY (Windows).

1. Open your SSH client.
2. Type:

   
   ssh example.com@s00000.gridserver.com
   
   

   OR

   
   ssh example.com@example.com
   
   

3. If this is your first time connecting to the server from this computer, you will see the following output. Accept the connection by typing "yes."

   
   The authenticity of host 'example.com (12.33.45.678)' can't be established.
   RSA key fingerprint is 3c:6d:5c:99:5d:b5:c6:25:5a:d3:78:8e:d2:f5:7a:01.
   Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?
   
   

   
   yes
   
   

4. You will now be prompted to enter your password. Please note that you will NOT see your cursor moving, or any characters typed (such as ******), when typing your password. This is a standard Terminal security feature. Hit enter.
   
   
5. You can also copy and paste, using Command+V to paste.

   
   Password:
   
   

6. You are now logged into your (gs) Grid-Service via SSH. You should see output like this:

   
   The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
   the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
   individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.
   
   Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
   permitted by applicable law.
   example.com@n11:~$
   
   

   You can begin typing commands at the prompt.