What is OpenSSH?
OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) is an open-source suite of tools used to securely connect to remote servers and transmit data. Built on the SSH protocol, it comes pre-installed by default on Linux and Unix-like operating systems.
It is used for connecting to remote servers, transferring files, tunneling (port forwarding), authentication processes, and more. It includes both client (ssh) and server (sshd) components.
How to Install OpenSSH?
OpenSSH comes pre-installed on most Linux distributions. However, if it is missing, it can be installed as follows:
Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openssh-client openssh-server
CentOS/RHEL:
yum install openssh-clients openssh-server
Arch Linux:
pacman -S openssh
Starting and Managing the SSH Server
sudo systemctl start sshd
sudo systemctl enable sshd
To check the status:
sudo systemctl status sshd
Establishing an SSH Connection via Linux Terminal
ssh username@server_ip_address
Example:
ssh [email protected]
When the connection is established, a password is required. For the first connection, "yes" must be entered for authentication.
Key-Based SSH Connection (Key-Based Login)
-
Generate key:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
-
Send the key to the server:
ssh-copy-id root@server_ip_address
-
Now a passwordless connection can be established:
ssh root@server_ip_address
This method is recommended to increase security on VPS and VDS servers.
VPS and VDS Server Management with OpenSSH
OpenSSH is the basic connection tool for all VPS and VDS servers. Thanks to its compatible structure, especially with Linux-based servers, it is easy to establish a connection, make updates, and perform software installations.
Germany Location VPS and OpenSSH
For Germany location VPS users, OpenSSH enables fast and secure connection to the Hetzner Cloud infrastructure. It offers optimized connection with low ping time.
Turkey Location VPS with Local and Fast SSH
Turkey location VPS services provide high-performance management by establishing a delay-free connection via terminal with OpenSSH.
Using OpenSSH with Graphics Card Physical Servers
OpenSSH offers a secure structure for GPU management and CUDA configuration via terminal on graphics card physical servers in AI, ML, and rendering projects.
OpenSSH Configuration File: sshd_config
Path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Some important settings:
Port 22
PermitRootLogin yes
PasswordAuthentication no
AllowUsers root
After configuration changes, the service needs to be restarted:
sudo systemctl restart sshd
Security Recommendations
-
Use key-based authentication instead of password-based connection
-
Changing the SSH port (e.g., using 2222)
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Protection against brute-force attacks with
fail2ban
oriptables
Comparison with Alternative SSH Clients
Feature | OpenSSH (Linux) | Bitvise SSH Client | MobaXterm | Putty |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terminal Based | ✅ Yes | ❌ GUI | ✅ Both GUI and terminal | ✅ Terminal |
GUI Support | ❌ No | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
SFTP Support | ✅ (scp/sftp) | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Automatic | ❌ External required |
Key Management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Native Linux Integration | ✅ Seamless | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Conclusion: Secure and Flexible Linux Server Management with OpenSSH
OpenSSH is the most basic and reliable SSH tool for Linux users. It offers both security and flexibility in VPS, VDS, and physical server management. It is ideal for those who want to control via the command line.
It works perfectly with VPS and VDS, Germany location VPS, Turkey location VPS, and graphics card physical servers to provide secure connection and full control in server management processes.
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