Anyone who needs to remotely manage a server or access resources on a remote machine should have the necessary skills to securely connect to an SSH (Secure Shell) server. In this instructional tutorial that is broken down into steps, we will discuss how to connect to an SSH host and provide specific instructions on each stage of the procedure. In addition, we will talk about the many tools that may be utilized to connect to an S.S.H. server, as well as the features of those tools.
How To Connect To SSH Server – 7 Steps
Step 1: Install an SSH Client
To connect to an SSH server, you need an SSH client. There are several SSH clients available, such as OpenSSH, PuTTY, and Bitvise SSH Client. In this guide, we will use OpenSSH as an example. If you don’t have OpenSSH installed, you can install it by following the instructions provided by your operating system’s package manager.
Step 2: Launch the SSH Client
After installing OpenSSH, you can launch it by opening a terminal window and typing the following command:
This will launch the S.S.H. client and display its usage information.
Step 3: Enter the SSH Server Address
To connect to an Secure Shell server, you need to know its IP address or hostname. You can enter the host address in the following format:
ssh username@hostnameReplace “username” with your SSH username and “hostname” with the IP address or hostname of the Secure Shell host you want to connect to.
Step 4: Enter the SSH Server Port
By default, SSH servers listen on port 22. If your SSH host is listening on a different port, you can specify it in the S.S.H. command using the “-p” option, as shown below:
ssh -p port_number username@hostnameReplace “port_number” with the port number your SSH server is listening on.
Step 5: Authenticate Yourself
Once you have entered the SSH host address and port number, you will be prompted to enter your Secure Shell password. If you have set up public-key authentication, you can use your private key instead of a password.
Step 6: Verify the SSH Server Host Key
When you initially connect to an S.S.H. server, your Secure Shell client will ask you to verify the server’s host key fingerprint before allowing you to connect to the host. This is a precaution taken for your safety to guarantee that you are connecting to the intended server and not an imposter acting as a “man in the middle.” Before moving on, you need to make sure the fingerprint is a perfect match for the hostr’s fingerprint.
Step 7: Connect to the SSH Server
If the server’s host key fingerprint is verified, you will be connected to the SSH server. You can now use the Secure Shell client to execute commands or transfer files to and from the host.
Tools Used for Connecting to an SSH Server
As mentioned earlier, there are several S.S.H. clients available for connecting to an Secure Shell server. Some of the most popular Secure Shell clients are:
- OpenSSH – A free and open-source Secure Shell client that is included in most Unix-based operating systems.
- PuTTY – A free and open-source Secure Shell client for Windows.
- Bitvise SSH Client – A commercial Secure Shell client for Windows that offers advanced features such as SFTP and port forwarding.
All of these SSH clients offer similar functionality and can be used to connect to an SSH server securely. The choice of S.S.H. client will depend on your operating system and personal preferences.
In conclusion, knowing how to connect to an S.S.H. server is essential knowledge for anyone who has to administer a remote host or gain access to remote machine resources. This tutorial will show you how to use an Secure Shell client, such as OpenSSH, PuTTY, or Bitvise SSH Client, to connect to an S.S.H. server in a safe and effective manner. To further assure that you are connecting to the intended host and not a man-in-the-middle attacker, you should check the host key fingerprint.
Generally speaking, the most secure and trustworthy method of remote access is to use an Secure Shell client to connect to an Secure Shell server. If you use the suitable Secure Shell client and do the necessary procedures, remote management will go off without a hitch.
I specialize in cloud technologies. So in a few years, he has become one of our top field specialists and has moved from intern's potion to a fully trained professional DevOps in an impressive fashion. I work in a wide range of areas that require in-depth knowledge, such as working with Linux-based infrastructure; setting up and managing databases; CI/CD platforms, Kubernetes; Helm, Docker; Python, Ansible; TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSH. I am also fond of hunting, fishing and traveling. You can see more information about me on my social media pages.