Connecting to Your Server via SSH

Prerequisites link

Before connecting, make sure you have:

• An active VPS or Dedicated Server with GoZen Host
• Your server’s IP address (found in your client area dashboard)
• Your root password or an SSH key pair

Connecting from Linux / macOS link

Open your terminal and run:

  ssh root@your-server-ip
  

You’ll be prompted for your password on first connection. Accept the host fingerprint by typing yes when asked.

Using an SSH Key (Recommended) link

For better security, use key-based authentication instead of passwords.

1. Generate a key pair (if you don’t already have one):

  ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"
  

2. Copy your public key to the server:

  ssh-copy-id root@your-server-ip
  

3. Connect without a password:

  ssh root@your-server-ip
  

Connecting from Windows link

Option 1: Windows Terminal / PowerShell link

Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in OpenSSH client. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and use the same commands as Linux:

  ssh root@your-server-ip
  

Option 2: PuTTY link

1. Download PuTTY
2. Enter your server IP in the Host Name field
3. Ensure the port is set to 22 and connection type is SSH
4. Click Open and log in with your credentials

Changing the Default SSH Port link

For added security, you can change the default SSH port from 22 to a custom port:

  # Edit the SSH config
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

# Find and change this line:
# Port 22
Port 2222

# Restart the SSH service
sudo systemctl restart sshd
  

Disabling Root Login link

Disable direct root login. Use a regular user with sudo privileges instead:

  # Create a new user
adduser deploy

# Grant sudo access
usermod -aG sudo deploy

# Edit SSH config
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

# Set:
PermitRootLogin no

# Restart SSH
sudo systemctl restart sshd
  

Troubleshooting link

Next Steps link

Once connected, you can start configuring your server. Check out our other guides:

• Choosing the Right Hosting Plan