How do I connect to the server by SSH (shell access)?
Updated on 3 November 2026
SSH: introduction and definition. SSH, short for Secure SHell, is a network protocol used to connect to the server's command line interpreter. With a tool using this protocol, you can establish an encrypted, and therefore secure, connection between the client machine and the server. Please note: as a security measure, shell (SSH) access to hosting accounts on shared servers is turned off by default. To have shell (SSH) access activated on your account, please request it from our team by support ticket. SSH software: if you use Windows, you will have to download and install a program such as PuTTY (free) on your machine before you can connect to the server. You can find PuTTY at the following link: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html Under Linux, the ssh program is normally installed by default (see your Linux manual if it is not). Connection instructions with PuTTY. Once PuTTY is installed:
1. Start PuTTY
2. In the Host Name field, enter your domain name (example: yourdomain.com) or the numeric (IP) address of your account (example: 111.222.33.44). Tip: you can also include your username directly in this field, using the following syntax: user@hostname, where user = your username and hostname = your domain name (example: domaine1@yourdomain.com)
3. Set the connection port to 2222 (for shared accounts) or to the port given to you when you ordered a dedicated server (generally port 22)
4. Select the SSH protocol
5. Click Open
6. You will receive a notice asking you to confirm that you intend to connect to the server; you must accept/confirm.
7. The server will ask for your username and then your password (or only the password if you used the tip given in step 2). Give the same username and password as for access to cPanel.
8. If SSH access is activated on your account, you should now be connected to the server by SSH. Otherwise, please contact our support team with the details of the problem. For more information about the command line interpreter, see the other article in this section.