Server: Installation of SSH
Introduction
Secure Shell (SSH) is a secure protocol that enables safe and encrypted access to remote systems. It ensures the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted across networks.
In this guide, you will understand how to install or reinstall the SSH Server for a range of Linux Distributions that we currently offer across our VPS servers. Most Linux Distros offered through our VPS servers, are equipped with an SSH Server by default which means you can easily manage it through the product's webinterface. You can view how to do this via our guide: Initial Access with SSH
If you wish to learn more about improving your security on your server, we highly recommend viewing our Linux Security Tips guide which promotes a range of tools and services that can help secure your server further.
Installation
To start the installation process, access your server via VNC. You can follow these steps using the VNC Console.
- CentOS
- Debian
- Ubuntu
- Fedora
If you want to re-install the SSH server, make sure that you uninstall it first. You can do so through the command: yum remove openssh.
Before installing the SSH server, make sure your system is up to date. Run the following command:
yum update
Now proceed to install the SSH server using following command:
yum install openssh-server
Once it has finished installing, you can start the SSH server service with the following command:
systemctl start sshd
Ensure that you enable the service to automatically start on system boot. You can do this through the following command:
systemctl enable sshd
Enabling root login
To enable root login, you need to edit the openssh configuration file. In this guide, we will use "nano" as editor.
If "nano" is not already installed, it must be installed first. To do so, use the following command: yum install nano
Proceed to open the configuration file by running:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Using arrows keys to navigate, search for the following line:
#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
Change this to the following, which enables remote root login:
PermitRootLogin yes
Finally, restart the SSH Server in order to apply the new configuration by using the following command:
systemctl restart sshd
If you want to re-install the SSH server, make sure that you uninstall it first. You can do so through the command: apt remove openssh.
Before installing the SSH server, make sure your system is up to date. Run the following command:
apt update
Now proceed to install the SSH server using following command:
apt install openssh-server
Once it has finished installing, you can start the SSH server service with the following command:
systemctl start sshd
Ensure that you enable the service to automatically start on system boot. You can do this through the following command:
systemctl enable sshd
Enabling root login
To enable root login, you need to edit the openssh configuration file. In this guide, we will use "nano" as editor.
If you do not already have "nano" installed, you will need to install it. To do so, use the following command: apt install nano
Proceed to open the configuration file by running:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Using arrows keys to navigate, search for the following line:
#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
Change this to the following, which enables remote root login:
PermitRootLogin yes
Finally, restart the SSH Server in order to apply the new configuration by using the following command:
systemctl restart sshd
If you want to re-install the SSH server, make sure that you uninstall it first. You can do so through the command: apt remove openssh.
Before installing the SSH server, make sure your system is up to date. Run the following command:
apt update
Now proceed to install the SSH server using following command:
apt install openssh-server
Once it has finished installing, you can start the SSH server service with the following command:
systemctl start sshd
Ensure that you enable the service to automatically start on system boot. You can do this through the following command:
systemctl enable sshd
Enabling root login
To enable root login, you need to edit the openssh configuration file. In this guide, we will use "nano" as editor.
If you do not already have "nano" installed, you will need to install it. To do so, use the following command: apt install nano
Proceed to open the configuration file by running:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Using arrows keys to navigate, search for the following line:
#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
Change this to the following, which enables remote root login:
PermitRootLogin yes
Finally, restart the SSH Server in order to apply the new configuration by using the following command:
systemctl restart sshd
If you want to re-install the SSH server, make sure that you uninstall it first. You can do so through the command: dnf remove openssh.
Before installing the SSH server, make sure your system is up to date. Run the following command:
dnf update
Now proceed to install the SSH server using following command:
dnf install openssh-server
Once it has finished installing, you can start the SSH server service with the following command:
systemctl start sshd
Ensure that you enable the service to automatically start on system boot. You can do this through the following command:
systemctl enable sshd
Enabling root login
To enable root login, you need to edit the openssh configuration file. In this guide, we will use "nano" as editor.
If you do not already have "nano" installed, you will need to install it. To do so, use the following command: dnf install nano
Proceed to open the configuration file by running:
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Using arrows keys to navigate, search for the following line:
#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
Change this to the following, which enables remote root login:
PermitRootLogin yes
Finally, restart the SSH Server in order to apply the new configuration by using the following command:
systemctl restart sshd
You have now successfully installed the SSH Service on your server and can now access your server via SSH.