How to Set Up SSH Access on Shared Hosting
All {{COMPANY_NAME}} shared hosting plans include SSH access. Here is how to connect and use it.
SSH Access is Included
Tip: SSH access is available on ALL {{COMPANY_NAME}} shared hosting plans (cPanel and DirectAdmin) via CloudLinux. You do NOT need a VPS for SSH.
Connecting via SSH
Step 1: Find Your SSH Details
- Log in at {{SUPPORT_URL}}.
- Go to Services > click your hosting.
- Note the Server Hostname and IP Address.
Step 2: Connect
From macOS / Linux Terminal:
bash
ssh your-cpanel-username@your-server-hostname -p 22From Windows (PowerShell or Terminal):
bash
ssh your-cpanel-username@your-server-hostname -p 22From PuTTY (Windows):
- Open PuTTY.
- Host: your server hostname.
- Port: 22.
- Click Open.
- Login with your cPanel/DirectAdmin username and password.
Step 3: Authenticate
Enter your cPanel or DirectAdmin password when prompted.
Using SSH Key Authentication
For passwordless, more secure login:
- On your local machine, generate a key pair:
bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519- In cPanel, go to Security > SSH Access > Manage SSH Keys.
- Click Import Key.
- Paste your public key (from `
~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub`). - Click Import.
- Authorise the key by clicking Manage > Authorize.
What You Can Do with SSH
- Git operations — clone, pull, push repositories.
- Composer — manage PHP dependencies.
- npm / Node.js — run Node.js applications.
- Python / pip — run Python scripts and install packages.
- WP-CLI — manage WordPress from the command line.
- File management — faster than File Manager for bulk operations.
- Database management — use mysql command-line client.
Common SSH Commands
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
`ls -la` | List files with details |
`cd public_html` | Navigate to website directory |
`wp plugin list` | List WordPress plugins (WP-CLI) |
`mysql -u user -p dbname` | Access MySQL database |
`composer install` | Install PHP dependencies |
`node app.js` | Run a Node.js app |
`python3 script.py` | Run a Python script |
Using cPanel Terminal
If you prefer a web-based terminal:
- Log in to cPanel.
- Go to Advanced > Terminal.
- A browser-based SSH terminal opens.
Tip: The cPanel Terminal is convenient for quick tasks. For extended work, use a proper SSH client for better performance.
Limitations on Shared Hosting
- You cannot install system-level packages (no `
sudo/apt`). - Background processes may be limited by CloudLinux.
- Port access is restricted (only your allocated ports).
- Resource limits (CPU, RAM) apply.
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Need help? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_URL}}/client/support.