Skip to content

SSH login

SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard way to connect to a Linux server. You’ll find login details (IP, user, password or key) in the AlfaHost panel after the service is activated.

What you need

  • Server IP address (e.g. 203.0.113.10)
  • Username - usually root on Linux, or another user shown in the panel
  • Password or a private SSH key
  • SSH port - default 22

Tip

If you can’t connect, double-check the IP, port, and whether the server is online in the panel. If the password fails, reset it in the panel or contact support.

App Platforms Best for
ClientOSH Windows, Linux, macOS SSH + SFTP + RDP in one window (recommended)
PuTTY Windows Classic lightweight SSH client
Termius Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile Modern client with synced hosts
System terminal Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux Built-in OpenSSH - no install needed

A lightweight native SSH/SFTP/RDP client: github.com/hdmain/clientosh.

  1. Download an installer from Releases (Windows / Linux / macOS).
  2. Launch clientosh.
  3. On the dashboard, create an SSH session.
  4. Enter host (IP), username, port 22, and choose password or key auth.
  5. Connect - the terminal opens in the workspace. Open SFTP with the folder icon.

Quick connect from the command line:

clientosh ssh root@203.0.113.10 --name vps

PuTTY (Windows)

  1. Install PuTTY from putty.org.
  2. Open PuTTY.
  3. In Host Name, enter the server IP.
  4. Port: 22, Connection type: SSH.
  5. Click Open.
  6. Accept the host fingerprint on first connect.
  7. Enter username (e.g. root) and password.

Passwords in PuTTY

Characters won’t appear while typing - that’s normal. Paste with the right mouse button.

Termius

  1. Install Termius.
  2. Add a New Host.
  3. Fill in Address (IP), Username, Port 22.
  4. Add a password or key in the credentials section.
  5. Save and connect with a double-click.

System terminal (OpenSSH)

Windows (PowerShell / cmd)

ssh root@203.0.113.10

If OpenSSH isn’t installed: Settings → Apps → Optional features → OpenSSH Client.

macOS / Linux

ssh root@203.0.113.10

Custom port:

ssh -p 22 root@203.0.113.10

Key-based login:

ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 root@203.0.113.10

SSH key login

Keys are more secure than passwords.

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

    ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "alfahost"

  2. Copy the public key to the server (while you can still log in with a password):

    ssh-copy-id root@203.0.113.10

    On Windows you can paste the contents of id_ed25519.pub into ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the server.

  3. From then on you connect without a password (or with the key passphrase only).

Common issues

Symptom Check
Connection timed out IP, firewall, whether the VPS is running
Connection refused SSH service running, port not changed
Permission denied Password / key / username
Host key changed Server was reinstalled - remove the old known_hosts entry

Remove an old fingerprint (Linux/macOS/Windows OpenSSH):

ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.10