Connecting to a Server with SSH: A Beginner’s Guide

SSH (Secure Shell) is a powerful tool for securely connecting to and managing remote servers. This tutorial will guide you through the basics of connecting to a server using SSH on your computer.

What You’ll Need:

• A computer with a terminal or command prompt (built-in on macOS and Linux, downloadable for Windows)
• The server’s IP address or hostname
• A username and password for the server (provided by your server administrator)

Steps to Connect:

1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
   • On macOS or Linux, this is usually found in Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
   • On Windows, search for “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell” in the Start menu.
2. Run the SSH command.Type the following command in your terminal, replacing the bracketed placeholders with your information:ssh username@server_address
   • username is your username for the server.
   • server_address can be the server’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) or hostname (e.g., [invalid URL removed]).
3. Verify the server’s fingerprint (first time only).The first time you connect to a server, you’ll see a message displaying the server’s fingerprint (a unique identifier). This verifies the server’s identity.
   • Type yes and press Enter if you trust the server and want to continue.
   • Important: Do not connect if the fingerprint doesn’t match what you expect. Contact your server administrator for verification.
4. Enter your password.The terminal will prompt you for your password for the server user account. Type your password securely (characters won’t be displayed while typing) and press Enter.
5. You’re connected!If the login is successful, you’ll see the server’s command prompt, indicating you’re now connected and ready to interact with the server.

Additional Tips:

• You can specify the SSH port number in the command if it’s different from the default (port 22). For example:

ssh username@server_address -p 2222

• For repeated connections, consider saving your server details in a secure way using your terminal’s configuration options.

Remember: SSH credentials are sensitive. Keep your password secure and avoid sharing it with anyone.

Further Learning:

This tutorial provides a basic introduction to SSH connections. With SSH, you can transfer files, execute commands, and manage your server remotely. Explore online resources for more advanced functionalities and best practices for secure server management.

Tip: See how to configure a config file to save your connections.