How do I set up SSH access using the Aplus.Net Control Panel and PuTTY?

Answer by: Stuart Pierce, Aplus.Net Knowledge Base Support.

1. Start by logging into your Aplus.Net Control Panel by going to http://cp.aplus.net, using your registration number and password.
2. Select Web Hosting from the top navigation bar.
3. Next, select Hosted Domains and click on Manage Hosted Domains.
4. Click on your utility domain (Example: yourFTPusername.web.aplus.net).
5. Next, click on the Secure Shell icon.
6. If you already have SSH enabled on your account, you will be prompted to Add a Public key. If you do not have SSH access yet, click here.
7. Now, you have to generate a public/private key pair before you can submit it to the Control Panel.
8. Open a new browser window, and search the Internet for the keywords “Download Putty.” Download the PuTTY key generator (puttygen.exe) and PuTTY client (putty.exe) that corresponds to your operating system.
9. Open the PuTTY key generator puttygen.exe.
10. Under the Parameters heading, make sure that the Type of key to generate is SSH2 (RSA) and that the Number of bits in a generated key is 1024.
11. Click on Generate.

12. Move the mouse over the blank area to create randomness which generates a unique key.

13. Next, enter a Key comment and Key passphrase into the respective text fields.
1. Key comment: this will be added at the end of your public key, which will help you differentiate between your keys if you choose to use several key pairs.
2. Key passphrase: this will be your password to login to your Shell account. Make sure that you remember this passphrase, since it is not recoverable.
14. Next, click Save public key and Save private key to save both keys (public.pub and private.ppk) to your computer.

15. Copy the entire public key from the PuTTY key generator window. First right-click with the mouse inside the public key text field and use Select All to make sure that the entire key is selected and then use Copy. Now, go back to your Aplus.Net Control Panel, and paste the key into the Add a public key… field.
16. Next, open the PuTTY client putty.exe.
17. Click on Session:
1. Enter your domain name in the Host Name field.
2. Port: 22
3. Protocol: SSH

18. Select the Auth menu, then click the Browse button and select the private key file that you have saved earlier on your computer.

19. Select the SSH menu, then choose SSH2 as a preferred protocol version.

20. Finally, click Open.
21. You will be prompted for your login information. Enter your FTP username and the passphrase that you selected when you generated the keys.

NOTE:

If you have not yet made a request for the Aplus.Net Support Department to enable the SSH on your account:

Please fax a copy of your Photo ID or Drivers License to (661) 752-7775. Include also your Registration Number and Customer Password with Aplus.Net.
You will need to wait until we enable the SSH on your account before continuing to configure your SSH.

For instructions on configuring SSH access using SecureCRT, please click here.