I'm trying to wrap my head around SSH, which I know is a protocol for securely connecting to servers. I've heard developers mention that they "ssh into a server from the terminal," but I'm unclear on what that really means. It seems like it involves more than just connecting to the server, but I'm not sure what the details are. Can anyone explain how SSH works and how I can use it effectively? Thanks for any help!
3 Answers
SSH, or Secure Shell, lets you access the command line of a remote server using your own terminal. Think of it like having a remote control for another computer, allowing you to run commands as if you were sitting right in front of it. When you use SSH, you send your inputs through a secure and encrypted channel, making it safe from prying eyes, which is super important, especially for sensitive tasks! Just use a command like `ssh username@hostname` to get started.
In short, SSH is a standardized way to connect to another machine, often a server running a UNIX system. You'll need to know the host's address and valid user credentials. Once connected, you can perform operations like editing files or monitoring processes—all through your terminal, which is essentially what we did before graphical user interfaces took over.
Wow, I didn’t know it was that simple! So it's similar to how accounts work on our personal computers?
When developers say they're 'ssh-ing into a server,' they just mean they're connecting to it to issue commands. It’s really that straightforward! After you authenticate, everything you type runs on that remote machine. This is crucial for managing remote services, especially if you're not physically nearby—like fixing a crashed server halfway across the world!
So, just to clarify, once you're in with SSH, you can run any commands that you'd usually issue locally, right?