Connect to Your Account with PuTTY

What are SSH and PuTTY?

SSH is a safe way to control a remote computer by typing commands. Your hosting server is such a remote computer. PuTTY is a free Windows program that opens an SSH connection. Think of it as a window into your server.

What you need

• PuTTY, downloaded from its official website.
• Your server address or hostname. Find it in your welcome email.
• Your username and password.
• The SSH port. It is often 22, but your welcome email or Hostvento support can confirm it.
• SSH access turned on for your plan. If it is not, ask Hostvento support.

Steps

1. Open PuTTY.
2. In the Host Name (or IP address) box, type your server address.
3. In the Port box, type the SSH port.
4. Make sure SSH is selected as the connection type.

   

5. Optional: type a name in Saved Sessions and click Save. Next time you can just load it.
6. Click Open.
7. A security alert may appear the first time. It asks if you trust the server. Click Accept if the address is yours.
8. A black window opens. At login as:, type your username and press Enter.

   

9. Type your password and press Enter. The screen shows nothing while you type. This is normal.
10. When you see a prompt that ends with $ or #, you are connected.

Try a few safe commands

pwd

This shows the folder you are in.

ls

This lists the files in that folder.

exit

This closes the connection.

If it does not connect

• Check the address, port, username and password.

  

• Your own firewall or internet provider may block the port.
• Your IP address may be blocked on the server after many wrong passwords. Ask support to check.
• Make sure SSH is enabled for your account.

Quick recap

• PuTTY connects you to your server using SSH.

  

• Enter the host, port and choose SSH, then click Open.

  

• Log in with your username and password.
• Type exit to leave.
• Ask support if SSH is not enabled.