To get a command line on a Domain India DirectAdmin hosting account, first ask support to enable jailed SSH, then connect with an SSH client and your SSH key. There is no terminal page in the DirectAdmin menu on our servers, so an SSH client is the route.
For enabling SSH, adding your key and connecting step by step, see enabling and accessing SSH on DirectAdmin hosting and the general jailed SSH guide.
Jailed SSH access is available on every shared hosting plan (cPanel, DirectAdmin, Webuzo). It is off by default; ask support to enable it for your account. On DirectAdmin, connect on port 22 with your DirectAdmin username and an SSH key; password login is off. There is no terminal page in the DirectAdmin menu on our servers, so use an SSH client.
1. Two ways to a command line
| Route | What you need | Status on our DirectAdmin servers |
|---|---|---|
| SSH client (Terminal, PowerShell, PuTTY) | SSH enabled, your SSH key, port 22 | Works: key login on port 22 |
| Terminal inside DirectAdmin | Not offered | No terminal item in the DirectAdmin menu on our servers; use an SSH client |
Not seeing a terminal in DirectAdmin does not mean anything is wrong with your account: connect with an SSH client, or ask support.
2. Connect with an SSH client
- Ask support to enable SSH.Use 24/7 live chat or a ticket at /client/support/new. There is nothing to buy.
- Create an SSH key.Run
ssh-keygen -t ed25519on your computer and set a passphrase. Full steps: how to generate SSH keys. - Add the public key.With the DirectAdmin File Manager, create
.sshin your home folder (permission 700) andauthorized_keysinside it (permission 600), and paste the public key as one line. Or send the public key to support. - Connect.Your username and server IP are on the Access tab at /client/services/hosting. Run the command below.
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -p 22 [email protected]Use port 22. Port 2222 on our DirectAdmin servers is the control panel, not SSH.
3. Where your files are
Your websites are under domains in your home folder, the same layout the DirectAdmin File Manager shows:
cd ~/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html # your website's folder
ls -la # list files, including .htaccess
du -sh ~/domains/* # space used by each domain
tail -n 50 error_log # last lines of a PHP error log, if one exists hereThe shell is jailed (restricted): you see only your own account, with no root and no sudo, and you cannot install system packages. Tools available inside the jailed shell vary, so ask support before you rely on a specific one such as Composer or WP-CLI. rm deletes permanently, so check with ls first. More safe commands are in how to log in using SSH and essential Linux commands.
4. Apps and heavier jobs
- Node.js and Python apps: our DirectAdmin servers have the CloudLinux application selector for both. See deploying a Node.js app and deploying a Python app.
- Resource limits: everything you run from the shell counts towards your account's limits, like your website. See understanding hosting resource limits.
- Programs that must run all day belong on the App Platform or a VPS, not on shared hosting.
5. If you cannot get in
- Permission denied (publickey): the public key is missing from
.ssh/authorized_keys, the permissions are wrong, or SSH is offering a different key. - Login accepted, then the connection closes: SSH is not enabled yet; ask support.
- Everything times out: your IP may be blocked after failed logins. See have I been blocked?.
6. Where DirectAdmin hosting fits
Every DirectAdmin plan can have jailed SSH on request. Prices on the card are live and exclude 18% GST.
- 10 GB NVMe SSD Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 1 Website
- 5 Email Accounts
Does DirectAdmin hosting at Domain India have a terminal?
You get a command line through jailed SSH, which is available on every shared hosting plan and is off by default; ask support to enable it. Connect with an SSH client on port 22. The DirectAdmin panel on our servers has no terminal page.
What port and login do I use for SSH on DirectAdmin?
Port 22, your DirectAdmin username and an SSH key. Password login over SSH is switched off. Port 2222 is the DirectAdmin control panel, not SSH.
Where is my website folder on DirectAdmin?
In your home folder under domains, then your domain name, then public_html, for example domains/yourdomain.com/public_html.
Can I install packages or use sudo from the DirectAdmin shell?
No. It is a jailed shell limited to your own account. For root access, use a Domain India VPS.
Can I run Composer or WP-CLI over SSH on DirectAdmin?
Tools available inside the jailed shell vary by server. Ask support whether the tool you need is available before you rely on it.
Ready for a command line? Ask support to enable SSH by opening a ticket or on live chat, then create your SSH key.
Tell us your domain and what you need the command line for. Support switches on jailed SSH for your account and confirms when it is ready.
Ask support to enable it