How to: SSH to Cpanel

When managing a cPanel server, you may need additional functionality that is not provided by the cPanel Web interface. The option to connect to a cPanel server using a secure shell, or SSH, connection is available using your cPanel username and password. This may be necessary to install additional programs, edit configuration files or to view real-time monitoring scripts on your system.

Instructions

1. Open your preferred SSH client, such as PuTTY, SecureCRT or the OpenSSH terminal. You must download and install one of these clients if you do not have an SSH client installed.

2. Type the IP address or domain name of your cPanel server in the "host name" or "host" field of your SSH client.

3. Enter "22" as the port to connect to. Port 22 is responsible for handling SSH and SCP, or secure copy, connections.

4. Click the "Connect" button on your SSH client.

5. Type your cPanel username when prompted, then press "Enter." Type your password immediately after, then press "Enter." You have now connected through SSH.

Tips & Warnings

• You must log in using the "root" account to make system-wide configuration changes.

References

• Princeton University: Connect to Login Servers via SSH
• cPanel: SSH/Shell Access

Resources

• Greenend: PuTTY
• VanDyke Software: SecureCRT
• SourceForge: OpenSSH for Windows