SSH into Shared Server

The Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. Its most notable applications are remote login and command-line execution.
The use of SSH keys is required for SSH access on all of our shared hosting plans, as password authentication is disabled as a security measure. An SSH key pair consists of two parts - a public key and a private key. The public key lives on the server you are connecting to, and grants access to SSH clients that possess the associated private key.

Here we cover the steps to create an SSH key and use it to access your account using PuTTY.

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Getting Started with cPanel

Generate SSH Key

1. Log into cPanel
2. Navigate to SSH Access, located under the Security section
   
3. Click the Manage SSH Keys button
   
4. Click the Generate a New Key button
   
5. Fill in the details for the new key then click the Generate Key button
   
   
   1. The Key Name field can be left as the default value of id_rsa unless you wish to change it
   2. Enter a strong password in the Password field or use the Password Generator button to create a random password, then enter the same password in the Password (Again) field
      
   3. RSA is the recommended option for Key Type
   4. Key Size should be 2048 or 4096; 1024 is not recommended
      NOTE: Larger key sizes are more secure, but they result in larger file sizes and slower authentication times. 
6. Once generated, click Go Back
   
7. Click Manage beside the newly created key under the Public Keys section
   
8. Click the Authorize button
   
9. Click Go Back
10. Click View/Download beside the newly created key under the Private Keys section
    
11. Enter the password created in step 5 in the Convert the “id_dsa” key to PPK format: section then click the Convert button
    
12. Click the Download Key button
    

Connect Using PuTTY

1. In PuTTY, navigate to SSH, then Auth
2. Click Browse under Private key file for authentication
   
3. Navigate to the private key file downloaded in the previous section and click Open
   
   
4. Return to the Session page and enter the following details
   
   
   1. Host name: Enter the IP address associated with your account or the server hostname
      TIP: You can find your IP address under General Information on the home page of your cPanel.
   2. Port: 2222
5. Click the Open button
   NOTE: If a PuTTY Security Alert message pops up, click Yes.
6. Enter your cPanel username at the "login as:" prompt and press the Enter key
7. Enter the password you set when you created the SSH key in the previous section and press the Enter key
   
   NOTE: Nothing will be displayed when the password is typed, this is normal behavior.