What are the steps to enable SSH Access for Clients or Users?

SSH (Secure Shell) access allows users to connect to their account on the server via a command-line interface. As a server administrator, you can control whether cPanel users have shell access and which level of access they receive through WHM's Manage Shell Access interface.

This is useful when a user needs to run Git commands, manage files via CLI, or perform development tasks that require terminal access. You can grant Jailed Shell access (recommended for security) or Normal Shell access (full server access).

Step 1: Log in to WHM

Open your browser and navigate to https://your-server-ip:2087. Enter your root credentials to log in to WHM.

Step 2: Navigate to Manage Shell Access

In the WHM search bar at the top left, type Manage Shell Access and select it from the results. Alternatively, navigate to Home » Security Center » Manage Shell Access.

Step 3: Locate the User

You will see a list of all cPanel accounts on the server. Find the domain or username you wish to modify. You can use your browser's search function (Ctrl+F) to quickly locate a specific user.

Step 4: Select the Shell Access Level

Click the radio button next to the user to choose their access level:

• Jailed Shell — The user gets a restricted shell environment. They can run basic commands but are confined to their home directory and cannot access other users' files or system-level resources. This is the recommended option for most users.
• Normal Shell — The user gets unrestricted shell access to the server. Use this only for trusted users who need full system-level access.
• Disabled — No shell access. The user cannot connect via SSH. This is the default for new accounts.

Step 5: Save the Changes

Click the Save button at the bottom of the page to apply your changes.

Important Notes

• Users must also have an SSH key or password set up in cPanel to actually connect via SSH. Granting shell access in WHM does not automatically configure authentication.
• The user can generate an SSH key from cPanel » Home » Security » SSH Access.
• By default, new cPanel accounts have shell access disabled. You must explicitly enable it for each user.
• If you set a user to Jailed Shell but they cannot connect, verify that jailshell is properly installed on your server by running which jailshell via SSH.

Troubleshooting

• User cannot connect via SSH after enabling access: Ensure the SSH service is running (systemctl status sshd) and that the user has set up an SSH key or password in cPanel.
• "This account is currently unavailable" error: The shell binary may not exist. Run which jailshell or which bash to verify, and reinstall if necessary.
• Manage Shell Access not found: The search bar in WHM is the easiest way to locate it. If it still doesn't appear, check that your server is running a supported cPanel version.

For more information, see the official cPanel documentation: Manage Shell Access.