How to Connect to Your Server with SSH on Linux

What is SSH?

SSH stands for Secure Shell. It lets you type commands on a faraway computer. Everything you send is scrambled, so nobody can read it on the way. Think of it as a private tunnel between your computer and your server.

A terminal is a window where you type commands instead of clicking. Linux already has one.

What you need

Your server address (an IP address or a domain name).
Your username and password.
The SSH port number. It is usually 22, but your welcome email may list a different one.

If you cannot find these details, ask Hostvento support. SSH access may also need to be turned on for your plan.

Steps

Open the terminal on your Linux computer. On many systems you can press Ctrl + Alt + T.
Type this command and press Enter. Replace the user name and address with your own.
```
ssh username@your-server-address
```
This tells your computer to connect to the server as that user.
If you use a different port, add the -p option.
```
ssh -p 2222 username@your-server-address
```
This connects using port 2222 instead of 22.
The first time, you see a question about the server's fingerprint. A fingerprint is like an ID card for the server. Type yes and press Enter.
Type your password and press Enter. The screen will not show any letters while you type. This is normal.
When the prompt changes, you are inside the server. You can now type commands.
Type exit and press Enter when you are done.

Using an SSH key instead of a password

An SSH key is a pair of long secret files. One stays on your computer. The other goes on the server. It is safer than a password.

Create a key pair on your computer.
```
ssh-keygen -t ed25519
```
Press Enter to accept the default file location.
Copy the public key to the server.
```
ssh-copy-id username@your-server-address
```
This installs your public key so you can log in without typing the password.

Tip: Never share your private key file. Only the public key (ending in .pub) is safe to share.

If it does not work

Check that the address, user name and port are right.
Make sure SSH is enabled for your account.
Some home or office networks block SSH ports.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket.

Quick recap

SSH is a safe way to run commands on a remote server.
Use ssh username@address in the Linux terminal.
Add -p if your port is not 22.
SSH keys are safer than passwords.
Type exit to leave.