How to Enable SSH Access in cPanel

When you need secure shell access for your hosting account. This article explains how to enable SSH access in cPanel.

The SSH network protocol allows you to connect to another web server over the Internet via a command line interface (CLI). You can use this network protocol to remotely manage your server, configure CGI scripts, and perform other tasks.

How to enable SSH/Shell access in cPanel

You can enable SSH access from your cPanel -> Security -> SSH/Shell Access.

Once you open the tool, you can generate a new pair of SSH keys. You will need these keys in order to configure an SSH connection from your local computer to the server. The public key is saved on the server and you will have to insert the private key in your local SSH software.

Manage SSH keys

This section of cPanel's SSH Access interface allows you to create, import, manage, and remove SSH keys. The system will use these keys when you confirm that a specific computer has the right to access your website’s information with SSH.

How to generate an SSH key

1. Login to the cPanel that you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security click SSH Access.
3. Click Manage SSH Keys.
4. Then click Generate a New Key.
5. Type in a strong password, then click in the field below it and type the password again.
6. Click Generate Key, then you will see a Key Generation Complete! message.

How to authorize an SSH Key

Once you have generated the SSH Key, it needs to be Authorized.

1. Login to the cPanel that you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security click SSH Access.
3. Click Manage SSH Keys.
4. On the next screen, locate the key you just created under the Public Keys section. Click Manage (under the Actions column) next to your new key.  You will see a message stating:” The key with the name “id_rsa” is currently “not authorized” for use when connecting to this account. Click Authorize. You will then see a message stating: The key “id_rsa.pub” has been authorized.

Download the SSH Key

1. Login to the cPanel that you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security click SSH Access.
3. Click Manage SSH Keys.
4. Under Private Keys click View/Download next to the Private key you want to use.
5. On the next screen, click “ Download Key “.

Connect to your server via SSH  (Using PuTTY)

If you use Microsoft Windows® to connect to your server, you must use an SSH client, such as PuTTY, to log in to your server. To use PuTTY to connect to your server via SSH, perform the following steps:

1. Download and install the PuTTY client.
2. From the Windows Start menu, open the client.
3. In the Session interface, enter the hostname or IP address of the server in the Host Name (or IP address) text box.
4. Enter the port number in the Port text box.
5. Click Open.
6. Enter your cPanel account's username.
7. Enter your cPanel account's password.