Remote access Shell SSH in Shared Web Hosting with PuTTY
Unlike VPS and dedicated servers, the way to connect to SSH in shared hosting services requires a particular connection process.
First you must generate an SSH key, then convert it and download it. To finally connect using an SSH client such as PuTTY.
Below we will provide you with a series of instructions on how to connect via SSH:
1. Log in to the cPanel you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security, click on "SSH Access".
3. Click on the "Manage SSH keys" button.
4. Then click on the "Generate a new password" button.
There, type a secure password, then click in the field below and enter the password again.
5. Select the desired type of key:
- DSA keys provide faster times for key generation and signing.
- RSA keys provide faster verification times.
6. Click on the "Generate key" button, then the generated key will be displayed in a message.
Steps to Authorize an SSH Key:
Once you generate the SSH Key, you must authorize it before using it.
The steps to follow are those:
1. Log in to the cPanel you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security, click on "SSH Access".
3. Click on the "Manage SSH keys" button.
4. On the next screen, locate the key in a section called "Public Keys".
5. On the next screen, locate the key you just created under the Public Keys section. Then click the Manage link (under the Actions column) next to your new key.
6. You will see a message stating:
"The key with the name "id_dsa" is currently "not authorized" for use when connecting to this account.
Click the Authorize button. You will then see a message stating:
The key "id_dsa.pub" has been authorized.
Convert and Download the SSH Key:
1. Log in to the cPanel you want to connect to using SSH.
2. Under Security, click on "SSH Access".
3. Click on the "Manage SSH keys" button.
4. Under Private Keys click View/Download next to the Private key you want to use.
5. On the next screen, scroll down to the Convert the "id_dsa" key to PPK format: section. Enter the passphrase used to generate the SSH key in the Enter the passphrase to unlock the "id_dsa" key for conversion.
6. Click the Download Key button.
1. Open PuTTY, in "connection" click on SSH, then on "auth".
2. Click on "Browse", then select the "private key" that you downloaded in the last section and click on Open.
3. Click Session and where it says port, enter: 2222
4. In "Host Name", enter the domain name, or shared IP, then click on the Open button to connect. If after this you see a security message from PuTTY, click "Yes".
5. In the console you will see "Login As". Enter your cPanel username and then press "Enter."
6. Then, enter the password for your key file and press "enter". For security reasons PuTTY does not show anything when you type the password, this is normal. Then, you will initiate session through SSH.
