How to Install and Enable SSH on Ubuntu

Secure Shell (SSH) is a crucial tool for administering your Ubuntu servers. It allows you to connect to your server remotely and perform various administrative tasks securely. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to install and enable SSH on your Ubuntu system.

Step 1: Update Package Index

The first step is to ensure your package list is up-to-date. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update

This command updates the local package index, ensuring that you have the latest information on the newest versions of packages and their dependencies.

Step 2: Install OpenSSH Server Package

Next, you need to install the OpenSSH server package. The OpenSSH server facilitates secure communication between your client and server.

To install it, run:

sudo apt install openssh-server

Step 3: Check the Status of the SSH Service

After the installation is complete, you can check the status of the SSH service to ensure it is running:

sudo systemctl status ssh

If the service is active, you’ll see a status message indicating it’s running. If not, continue to the next step to start the service manually.

Step 4: Start the SSH Service

In case the SSH service is not running, you can start it with the following command:

sudo systemctl start ssh

Step 5: Enable SSH to Start on Boot

To ensure that the SSH service starts automatically when your system boots up, enable it with this command:

sudo systemctl enable ssh

Step 6: Allow SSH Through the Firewall (Optional but Recommended)

If you have a firewall enabled, you’ll need to allow SSH traffic. This can be done using the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW) tool:

sudo ufw allow ssh

Conclusion

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed and enabled SSH on your Ubuntu system. You can now connect to your server remotely using an SSH client. This setup is essential for secure server management and remote administration.

By following these steps, you’ll improve your server’s accessibility and security, allowing you to manage your server more efficiently. If you found this guide helpful, share it with others who might benefit from it.