This guide covers how to connect to your HOSTDOG hosting via SSH, including enabling SSH access on your account, connecting from macOS, Linux, and Windows terminals, and running your first commands. SSH access also enables tools like Git, WP-CLI, and Drush on your hosting.
What you will need
- An active HOSTDOG hosting account with SSH access enabled (available on all shared hosting plans)
- Your hosting username and password (found in your welcome email)
- A terminal application (built into macOS and Linux; Windows users can use PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or PuTTY)
Enable SSH access
SSH access is enabled by default on HOSTDOG hosting accounts. If you find that SSH connections are refused, verify in your control panel that shell access is set to a proper shell (such as /bin/bash) rather than /usr/local/cpanel/bin/noshell. You can check this under Advanced → Terminal or by contacting support.
Connect via SSH
On macOS, open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal). On Linux, open your preferred terminal emulator. On Windows, open PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or PuTTY.
Type the following command, replacing the placeholders with your actual credentials:
ssh yourusername@yourdomain.com -p 22| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Username | Your hosting account username (from your welcome email) |
| Hostname | Your domain name or the server hostname |
| Port | 22 [VERIFY — may be non-standard on some servers] |
The first time you connect, your terminal displays the server's fingerprint and asks if you want to continue. Type yes and press Enter. This stores the fingerprint locally so you are not asked again on future connections.
Type your hosting account password (the cursor does not move while typing — this is normal). Press Enter. If the credentials are correct, you are now connected to your hosting account's home directory.
Using SSH key authentication
For a more secure and convenient login, you can use SSH keys instead of a password. Generate a key pair on your local machine:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"Then copy the public key to your hosting account:
ssh-copy-id -p 22 yourusername@yourdomain.comAfter this, you can connect without entering a password each time. You can also add your public key manually through your control panel under Security → SSH Access → Manage SSH Keys.
Common SSH commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
ls -la |
List all files and directories with details |
cd public_html |
Navigate to your website's root directory |
pwd |
Show current directory path |
du -sh * |
Show disk usage per folder |
wp plugin list |
List WordPress plugins (WP-CLI) |
git status |
Check Git repository status |
exit |
Disconnect from SSH session |
Troubleshooting
Verify that you are using the correct port (22). If your ISP blocks port 22, try connecting from a different network. Also confirm that SSH access is enabled on your account — check Advanced → Terminal in your control panel, or contact support to enable it.
Double-check that you are using your hosting account username (not your email address or client area login). The password is the same one you use for your control panel. If you recently changed your password, wait a few minutes for the change to propagate. For key-based authentication, make sure the public key is correctly installed in your account.
This means the server's fingerprint has changed since your last connection (possibly due to a server migration). Remove the old entry from your known hosts file with ssh-keygen -R yourdomain.com and connect again. The terminal prompts you to accept the new fingerprint.