How to Connect to a Hosting Package via SSH

What is SSH?

SSH stands for “Secure shell”. It is a command line that you can use to execute commands on your hosting package via text commands.

Why is SSH so useful?

Working via the command line can be very time-consuming, as commands have to be typed in manually. However, in certain situations, using the command line is very handy as you can execute the following commands very easily:

• Find all files on your package that have been modified in the last 24 hours.
• Search for all files larger than 100 MB.
• Find all .PHP files that contain certain words.

Who is SSH useful for?

Especially advanced users (e.g. administrators and programmers) use the SSH protocol to connect to a server, because it makes many tasks easier and faster by typing commands than by clicking through a GUI.

Especially when a website is attacked by a web virus because it is not up-to-date or is not secure (you can read a quick summary of why this happens here), the use of the command line is indispensable. With a few commands, it is possible to quickly locate all or at least most of the compromised files so that you can clean up the web virus.

How do I enable SSH on my package?

SSH access must be enabled separately for each hosting package. This can be done in the My NEOSERV subscription centre.

To enable access to your package via SSH protocol, you need to follow these instructions:

1. Log in to the My NEOSERV Subscription Centre.
2. Click on the “Your domains/hosting” tab.
3. Click on the package on which you would like to enable SSH.
4. Select the “SSH Access” tab.
5. Add your IP address to the list of allowed IP addresses.
6. You will be presented with the SSH access details.
7. Use port 5050 to connect to the SSH Client.

What do I need to work on my package via SSH?

You need a good working knowledge of the “bash” command shell on Linux. Not all commands are allowed, of course, but only those that are necessary to perform basic operations.

You also need a suitable program for SSH connection to the hosting package. Among the most popular are:

• PuTTY: by far the most popular terminal program for Windows.
• Solar-PuTTY: a more modern interface with support for multiple simultaneous sessions from a single console.
• SecureCRT: supports SSH1, SSH2, Telnet, Rlogin, serial and TAPI protocols.
• mRemoteNG: another SSH client that supports multiple protocols and handles connection information.
• mobaXterm: provides support for SSH, telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP and SFTP.

We recommend using the freeware PuTTY. We have written more about its use in a blog post.

For further assistance, please call us on 059 335 000 or email us at info@neoserv.si.