{"id":39361,"date":"2026-08-31T17:20:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T10:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloudraya.com\/?p=39361"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:32:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T10:32:29","slug":"ssh-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cloudraya.com\/en\/blog\/ssh-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to Know SSH and How to Safely Access Servers from Anywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a developer or SysAdmin, you're probably familiar with SSH as an efficient way to communicate with servers remotely.<\/span> <\/p>\n

Briefly, SSH is a protocol that helps you access servers remotely from anywhere. This allows you to get your work done faster while keeping your data more secure.<\/span> <\/p>\n

So, if you're new to the world of development and servers, SSH is definitely something you should get familiar with.<\/span> <\/p>\n

So, what exactly is SSH? When do you need it, and how do you use it?<\/span> <\/p>\n

Let's go through it step by step in this article.<\/span> <\/p>\n

What Is SSH?<\/span><\/b> <\/h2>\n

SSH stands for <\/span>Secure Shell<\/span><\/i>, a protocol used to manage and access servers remotely over an encrypted network connection.<\/span> <\/p>\n

SSH is a commonly used standard for server administration because it can encrypt connections and provide authentication mechanisms.<\/span> <\/p>\n

SSH works by establishing a secure connection between your device (<\/span>client<\/span><\/i>) and the target server. Once connected, you can access the shell on the server to run commands, change configurations, monitor the system, and perform other administrative tasks.<\/span> <\/p>\n

Besides shell access, SSH also supports various needs such as file transfer and tunneling. The protocol generally uses TCP port 22 as its default port, although administrators can change it according to their security needs and server configuration.<\/span> <\/p>\n

If SSH is a new term for you, let's go over some related terms to avoid any misconceptions. When discussing SSH, you need to understand what a <\/span>Shell<\/span><\/i>, Terminal, and OpenSSH are.<\/span> <\/p>\n

Here's a quick explanation:<\/span> <\/p>\n

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  • Shell:<\/span><\/b> An <\/span>interface<\/span><\/i> used to give commands to the operating system.<\/span> <\/li>\n
  • Terminal:<\/span><\/b> The place where you open and use a <\/span>shell<\/span><\/i>.<\/span> <\/li>\n
  • SSH:<\/span><\/b> A protocol for remotely accessing a <\/span>shell<\/span><\/i> on another computer or server.<\/span> <\/li>\n
  • OpenSSH:<\/span><\/b> <\/span>Software\/tools<\/span><\/i> that implement SSH.<\/span> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Here's a simple example: you open a terminal and run the SSH. This connects you to the shell on the server, where you can run commands.<\/span> <\/p>\n

    Key Components of SSH<\/span><\/b> <\/h2>\n

    Now that you understand the basic terms, let's look at some of the components involved when you establish an SSH connection.<\/span> <\/p>\n

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    • \n

      SSH Client<\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      SSH Client is software used to establish a connection to an SSH Server. You usually run it through a terminal on your laptop or computer. OpenSSH is one example of software that provides an SSH Client.<\/span> <\/p>\n

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      • \n

        SSH Server<\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        SSH Server is a service running on the server that accepts connections from an SSH Client. Once a connection is received, the server processes the login request and provides access according to the user's permissions.<\/span> <\/p>\n

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        • \n

          Public Key<\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          A Public Key is one part of an SSH Key pair used for authentication. The Public Key can be stored on the server to help verify the user's identity.<\/span> <\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Private Key<\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            A Private Key is the counterpart to the Public Key and is stored on the user's device. This key must be kept secret because it is used to prove the user's identity during authentication.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              \n
            • \n

              SSH Daemon (sshd)<\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              The SSH Daemon, or <\/span>sshd<\/span>, is a program running on the server that accepts and handles SSH connections. On Linux systems, <\/span>sshd<\/span> runs as a service and makes the server ready to accept connections from SSH Clients.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              SSH Functions<\/span><\/b> <\/h2>\n

              To better understand what SSH can do, let's go through its main functions one by one:<\/span> <\/p>\n

              1. Remote Server<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              The most common function of SSH is accessing a server remotely. As a developer or administrator, you can log in to a VPS, cloud server, or dedicated server from your laptop without having to be physically present where the server is located. Once logged in, you can manage the system from anywhere, just as if you were working directly from the server terminal.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              2. File Transfer<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              SSH can also be used to transfer files securely. Technologies such as SCP (<\/span>Secure Copy Protocol<\/span><\/i>) and SFTP (<\/span>SSH File Transfer Protocol<\/span><\/i>) use SSH connections to send or retrieve files from a server. This is useful for application deployment, backups, and file transfers that require protection during transmission.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              3. Remote Command<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              Not every task requires an interactive terminal session. SSH can execute specific commands directly from the client. For example, an administrator can check disk usage, run scripts, or restart services without having to open a long shell session.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              4. Port Forwarding<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              This feature allows you to forward a connection from one port to another through an SSH connection. This means you can access internal services without making them publicly accessible. This approach can help keep your server more secure.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              5. Tunneling<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              With SSH tunneling, you can create a secure path between your device and a server through an SSH connection. Through this path, you can access resources or services that are not publicly accessible more securely. This feature is commonly used for troubleshooting, accessing databases, or accessing internal services.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              How Does SSH Work?<\/span><\/b> <\/h2>\n

              The SSH process can be illustrated as follows:<\/span> <\/p>\n

              Client \u2192 Internet \u2192 SSH Server \u2192 Authentication \u2192 Encryption \u2192 Shell<\/span> <\/p>\n

              As the <\/span>client<\/span><\/i>, you access the SSH Server through the internet. The <\/span>client<\/span><\/i> then communicates with the SSH Server to establish a secure connection, including encryption and authentication processes. Once these processes are complete, you can access the <\/span>shell<\/span><\/i> on the server.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              To make it clearer, let's look at each part of the process:<\/span> <\/p>\n

              1. SSH Client<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              The SSH Client connects you to the server through SSH. You can run it through a terminal on a device such as a laptop or computer. One commonly used example of an SSH Client is OpenSSH.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              2. SSH Server<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              SSH Server is a service running on the server that accepts connections from an SSH Client. When you try to connect, the SSH Server receives the request and processes it.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              3. Default Port 22<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              By default, SSH uses TCP port 22 to receive connections. So, when you run SSH without specifying another port, the connection is automatically directed to port 22.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              4. Authentication Process<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              After connecting, the server needs to make sure that you have permission to access it. This process is called <\/span>authentication<\/span><\/i> and can use a password, an SSH key, or additional methods such as MFA.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              5. Data Encryption<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              Once the connection is established, SSH encrypts the data sent between your device and the server. This means that someone trying to intercept the connection cannot easily read the information being transmitted.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              6. Session Creation<\/span> <\/h3>\n

              After the authentication process is complete, SSH creates a session between your device and the server. From there, you can access the <\/span>shell<\/span><\/i> and run various commands on the server. The session ends when you log out or the connection is closed.<\/span> <\/p>\n

              SSH Authentication Methods<\/span><\/b> <\/h2>\n

              To establish a secure connection, you can use several authentication methods with SSH:<\/span> <\/p>\n