Secure Shell (SSH) is a protocol that allows you to securely connect to and manage your server from a remote location. This article will walk you through connecting to your server using PuTTY on Windows, Terminal on macOS, or a terminal on Linux.
Before You Begin
Make sure you have the following information ready. You can find these details in your Welcome Email or by logging into your Circle City Servers Client Area.
- Server IP address or hostname
- SSH port (usually
22unless otherwise specified) - Username (commonly
rootfor Linux VPS/dedicated servers) - Password or SSH key
Option 1: Windows — Using PuTTY
- Download PuTTY from the official website: https://www.putty.org/
- Open PuTTY.
- In the Host Name (or IP address) field, enter your server's IP address or hostname.
- Enter the Port (default is
22). - Make sure Connection type is set to
SSH. - Click Open.
- If prompted about a host key, click Accept or Yes.
- When asked for your username, type it and press Enter. For root access, use
root. - When prompted, type your password and press Enter. Note: The password will not be displayed on screen as you type.
Once authenticated, you will be connected to your server's command line.
Option 2: macOS — Using Terminal
- Open Terminal from
Applications > Utilities > Terminal, or search for it using Spotlight. - Type the following command, replacing
usernameandyour-server-ipwith your actual details:ssh username@your-server-ip - If your server uses a custom SSH port, use the
-pflag:ssh -p 2222 username@your-server-ip - Press Enter.
- If prompted about host authenticity, type
yesand press Enter. - Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
You are now logged into your server via SSH.
Option 3: Linux — Using Terminal
- Open your terminal emulator. On most distributions, you can press
Ctrl + Alt + Tor search for "Terminal" in your applications menu. - Type the following command, replacing
usernameandyour-server-ipwith your actual details:ssh username@your-server-ip - If your SSH service runs on a custom port, include the port number:
ssh -p 2222 username@your-server-ip - Press Enter.
- If asked to confirm the host's identity, type
yesand press Enter. - Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
After successful authentication, you will have command-line access to your server.
Troubleshooting
- Connection timed out: Verify the server IP address and SSH port. Check that your firewall or network allows outbound SSH connections.
- Permission denied (password): Double-check your username and password. Make sure Caps Lock is off.
- Connection refused: SSH may not be running on the server, or the port may be blocked. Contact support if needed.
- Host key changed warning: This can happen after a server rebuild. Only continue if you recently reinstalled or migrated the server.
Need Help?
If you have trouble connecting, please open a support ticket through the Circle City Servers Support Portal and include any error messages you receive. Our team will be happy to assist you.