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SSH Documentation

SSH (Secure Shell) provides secure command-line access to your WordPress hosting environment, allowing you to perform advanced server management tasks, run WordPress CLI commands, and troubleshoot issues directly on your server.

What is SSH?

SSH is a secure network protocol that allows you to access your server’s command line remotely. Unlike FTP or web-based file managers, SSH provides encrypted connections and full server access for advanced users who need to:

  • Run WordPress CLI (WP-CLI) commands
  • Manage files and directories via command line
  • Install custom software or configurations
  • Perform database operations
  • Debug server issues
  • Execute automated scripts

Do I Need SSH Access?

SSH access is optional and primarily useful for:

  • Developers who prefer command-line workflows
  • Advanced users comfortable with Linux commands
  • Agencies managing multiple WordPress sites
  • Enterprise clients with custom deployment needs

Most WordPress management tasks can be accomplished through your PressTitan control panel, but SSH provides additional flexibility for power users.

Generating Your SSH Key

SSH keys provide secure, password-free authentication. You’ll need to generate a key pair (public and private keys) on your computer.

For Windows Users

Option 1: Using PowerShell (Windows 10/11)

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your-email@example.com"

Option 2: Using PuTTY

  1. Download and install PuTTY from https://putty.org
  2. Run PuTTYgen (included with PuTTY)
  3. Click “Generate” and move your mouse to create randomness
  4. Save both the public and private keys
  5. Copy the public key text from the PuTTYgen window

For Mac/Linux Users

Open Terminal and run:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your-email@example.com"

Follow the prompts:

  • Press Enter to save in the default location (~/.ssh/id_rsa)
  • Enter a passphrase for additional security (optional but recommended)
  • Press Enter again to confirm the passphrase

What Gets Created

The key generation process creates two files:

  • Private key (id_rsa or id_rsa.ppk for PuTTY): Keep this secure on your computer
  • Public key (id_rsa.pub): This gets added to your server

Locating Your Public Key

Mac/Linux

Your public key is typically located at:

~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

To view your public key content:

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

Windows (PowerShell)

type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_rsa.pub

Windows (PuTTY)

Your public key is displayed in the PuTTYgen window when you generate or load your key. Copy the entire text starting with ssh-rsa.

Requesting SSH Access from PressTitan

To get SSH access to your hosting account, you’ll need to submit a support request with your public key.

What to Include in Your Request

Email Subject: SSH Key Installation Request – [Your Domain]

Required Information:

  1. Your domain name or account identifier
  2. Your complete public key (the entire contents of your .pub file)
  3. Confirmation that you understand SSH access provides full server access

Sample Support Request

Subject: SSH Key Installation Request - example.com

Hello PressTitan Support,

I would like to request SSH access for my hosting account.

Domain: example.com
Account Email: your-email@example.com

Please add the following SSH public key to my server:

ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAACAQDExample1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzExample1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz your-email@example.com

I understand that SSH access provides full command-line access to my hosting environment and I will use it responsibly.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

Security Notes for Your Request

  • Only send your PUBLIC key – never share your private key
  • Use secure email – ensure your email account is secure
  • Verify the key – double-check that you’ve copied the complete public key

What Happens After Your Request

  1. PressTitan Support Reviews your request (typically within 4 business hours)
  2. Key Installation – Our team adds your public key to your server’s authorized keys
  3. Connection Details Provided – You’ll receive SSH connection information
  4. Access Confirmation – We’ll confirm your SSH access is active

Connecting to Your Server

Once your key is installed, you’ll receive connection details from PressTitan support.

Connection Information

  • Hostname: Provided by PressTitan (e.g., ssh.presstitan.com)
  • Port: Usually 22 (or custom port for security)
  • Username: Provided by PressTitan
  • Authentication: Your SSH key

Connecting from Mac/Linux

ssh username@ssh.presstitan.com -p 22

Connecting from Windows

PowerShell:

ssh username@ssh.presstitan.com -p 22

PuTTY:

  1. Enter hostname and port in PuTTY
  2. Navigate to Connection > SSH > Auth
  3. Browse and select your private key file
  4. Click “Open” to connect

Common SSH Commands for WordPress

Once connected, here are useful commands for WordPress management:

WordPress CLI Commands

# Update WordPress core
wp core update

# Update all plugins
wp plugin update --all

# List all users
wp user list

# Create database backup
wp db export backup.sql

File Management

# Navigate to WordPress directory
cd /path/to/your/wordpress/

# List files and directories
ls -la

# View file contents
cat wp-config.php

# Edit files with nano
nano .htaccess

System Information

# Check disk usage
df -h

# View running processes
top

# Check memory usage
free -m

SSH Security Best Practices

Key Management

  • Keep private keys secure – never share or upload them
  • Use passphrases – add extra security to your private keys
  • Regular key rotation – generate new keys periodically
  • Backup your keys – store them securely in multiple locations

Connection Security

  • Always verify hostnames – ensure you’re connecting to the correct server
  • Log out properly – use exit command to close sessions cleanly
  • Monitor access – be aware of who has SSH access to your account

Usage Responsibility

  • Be cautious with commands – SSH provides full server access
  • Don’t run unknown scripts – verify any code before execution
  • Backup before changes – create backups before making system modifications

Troubleshooting SSH Connection Issues

Permission Denied

  • Verify your public key was correctly added to the server
  • Check that you’re using the correct private key
  • Ensure your private key has proper permissions (600)

Connection Refused

  • Verify the hostname and port number
  • Check if SSH service is running on the server
  • Confirm firewall settings allow SSH connections

Key Not Working

  • Regenerate your key pair and submit a new request
  • Verify the public key format is correct
  • Check for extra spaces or missing characters in the key

Getting Help

If you experience issues with SSH access:

  1. Check our knowledge base for common solutions
  2. Contact PressTitan support with specific error messages
  3. Provide connection details (hostname, username, error messages)
  4. Include your public key if requesting key re-installation

Support Contact: support@presstitan.com
Subject Line: SSH Access Issue – [Your Domain]

Removing SSH Access

If you no longer need SSH access or want to remove a specific key:

  1. Contact PressTitan support requesting key removal
  2. Specify the public key to be removed (if you have multiple keys)
  3. Confirm the removal once support notifies you it’s complete

SSH access can be restored at any time by submitting a new key installation request.

Note: SSH access is provided for legitimate server management needs. PressTitan reserves the right to disable SSH access for accounts that violate our terms of service or engage in activities that compromise server security or performance.