SSH (Secure Shell) gives you command-line access to your hosting server.
Checking SSH Access
SSH is available on most hosting plans. Check your plan details or contact support to confirm.
Connecting via SSH
Windows
- Download PuTTY or use Windows Terminal
- Open terminal and type:
ssh [email protected] -p 22- Enter your password when prompted
macOS / Linux
- Open Terminal
- Run:
ssh [email protected]Using SSH Keys (More Secure)
- Generate a key pair:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519- Upload the public key to cPanel → SSH Access → Import Key
- Authorize the key
Common SSH Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -la | List files with details |
cd public_html | Change directory |
du -sh * | Check folder sizes |
tar -czf backup.tar.gz folder/ | Create archive |
mysql -u user -p dbname | Connect to MySQL |
Troubleshooting
- Connection refused: SSH may be on a non-standard port. Check welcome email.
- Permission denied: Verify username/password or SSH key authorization
- Timeout: Check firewall or ask support to whitelist your IP