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How to get started with SSH connections

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Learn how to securely log on to your server with the SSH protocol.

The SSH (Secure Shell) communication protocol is the main practice for establishing encrypted host connections through untrusted networks. The OpenSSH utility is available on all OVHcloud servers (VPS, dedicated servers, Public Cloud instances) to allow secure remote server logins and other operations.

Warning

NOTE: OVHcloud provides services for which you are responsible for their configuration and management. You are therefore responsible for their proper functioning.

This tutorial is designed to help you as much as possible with common tasks. If you are having difficulty performing these actions, please contact a specialized service provider. OVHcloud cannot provide you with technical support in this regard.

 

Requirements

  • A dedicated server or a VPS in your OVHcloud account
  • An SSH client application (command line or GUI)
Info

This guide does not apply to standard Windows server installations since they rely on the Remote Desktop Protocol for connections. However, SSH connections are used for the OVHcloud rescue mode. You can find more information in the Go further section of this guide.

 

Instructions

There are multiple ways to authenticate a connection to a remote device via SSH. The following instructions will involve the authentication method with username and password.

You can also configure key-based authentication to enable secure logins without passwords. You can find more details in our guides:

The login credentials (username and password) are sent to you by email at the first installation or when a server is reinstalled in the OVHcloud Control Panel.

The username corresponds to the operating system, for example, ubuntu or debian. To connect, you also need to specify the IP address or the hostname of the server. These details are available in the installation email and the OVHcloud Control Panel.

Be sure to consult our "Getting Started" guides as well:

 

Establishing a connection

GNU/Linux or macOS
Windows

A command line client for SSH (OpenSSH) is usually available by default. Open the Terminal application and connect to the server with the following command:

ssh username@server_IP

If you have changed the SSH port of the server, use this command instead:

ssh username@server_IP -p port_number

 

Login and fingerprint

When prompted for a password, type the password of the connecting user and press Enter.

If this is a new connection, your SSH client will receive a key fingerprint from the server. Enter "yes" to confirm and then the password of the connecting user to log in.

Example output:

ssh ubuntu@203.0.113.100
The authenticity of host '203.0.113.100 (203.0.113.100)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:rRwrdsmJfzvJF5k0a4JmMSdaWbTlCgRKBukbmQ3gmso.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?
Warning: Permanently added '203.0.113.100' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
ubuntu@203.0.113.100's password:

The fingerprint is then saved on your device and will be verified for each new connection. If the key has changed on the remote host, you will receive a warning message when trying to connect.

Example output:

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@    WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED!     @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Host key verification failed.
Offending ECDSA key in /home/user/.ssh/known_hosts:3

It means that one of the following has occurred:

  • The server has been reinstalled.
  • The SSH service on the server has been reinstalled.
  • You are connecting to a different host with the same IP address.
Info

The warning message does not necessarily indicate a security issue. If you have not initiated one of these incidents, the remote server might be compromised.

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate tab below.

GNU/Linux or macOS
Windows

Use the following command with the IP address of your server.

ssh-keygen -f ~/.ssh/known_hosts -R 203.0.113.100

Alternatively, you can edit the known_hosts file located in your local user account's home folder with a text editor.

Example:

nano ~/.ssh/known_hosts

Locate the "offending" line that was specified in the warning message; in this example, it would be the third one. Highlight and delete the entire line.

Save the changes and exit the editor. You will have to confirm the new fingerprint at the next server login.

 

Using dedicated GUI clients or software compatible with SSH

If you prefer a graphical user interface, you can find many software applications for every type of OS that enable you to connect to remote hosts via the SSH protocol.

For example, PuTTY is an open-source SSH client software with many user features. Find out how to use it for connections to OVHcloud servers in our detailed tutorial:

How to use PuTTY

Click here to see a list of software options for each of the three major operating systems.

On Windows:

For the latest Windows 10 and Windows Server versions, developer mode gives you access to a BASH (Bourne Again SHell) console. For more information, please review Microsoft's documentation.

On MacOS:

  • The Terminal tool is delivered with macOS and is automatically installed on the machine.

On Linux:

  • The Console or Terminal tool is natively installed.
  • For managing multiple tabs, the Terminator terminal emulator can be installed. You can read an Ubuntu manual page for Terminator here.
  • OpenSSH (Free)

 

Go further

How to configure user accounts and root access on a server

How to create and use keys for SSH authentication

How to create and use keys for SSH authentication with PuTTY

Dedicated server rescue mode

VPS rescue mode

Browse all the Dedicated Servers guides.

Browse the rest of the OVHcloud US documentation for guides on our other products and services.

Learn more about Dedicated Servers on the OVHcloud US website.

If you need training or technical assistance to implement our solutions, contact your sales representative or click on this link to get a quote and ask our Professional Services experts for a custom analysis of your project.