{"id":70700,"date":"2024-05-17T03:58:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T09:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/?p=70700"},"modified":"2026-01-22T00:14:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T06:14:34","slug":"the-most-useful-linux-ssh-commands-for-website-developers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/the-most-useful-linux-ssh-commands-for-website-developers\/","title":{"rendered":"Useful SSH Commands for Web Developers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nearly 70% of desktop computers run on Windows. A further 20% are based on macOS. In light of this, many of you may be a bit apprehensive when you learn that the server you host your website on is powered by Linux <\/strong>– an operating system traditionally associated with computer geeks and technical specialists.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is, you have nothing to worry about.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The web hosting industry has adapted its services to ensure you don’t need to be a technical wizard to use your hosting account. Modern server management solutions like SPanel<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>give you everything a typical website owner might need in a newbie-friendly point-and-click interface<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this isn’t always enough for experienced website developers and administrators. They often find it easier to use SSH commands<\/strong> to perform various tasks. The fact that you landed on this page means you most likely want to learn a bit more about Linux commands<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting to know them does make sense. It will give you a better understanding of how your server works and level up your technical expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let’s get to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is SSH and How Do You Use It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Useful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before we get to the commands, we first need to explain how to actually execute them. It’s all facilitated by SSH<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>– a networking protocol that connects your computer to your server and allows you to send commands over the internet<\/strong>. SSH stands for Secure Shell<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand SSH’s value, it’s best to explain the two words separately.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Secure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SSH is secure because it uses complex cryptography to fully encrypt the communication channel between you and your server. Before this tool, information between clients and servers was transmitted in plain text, opening the opportunity for eavesdropping, data theft, and even server takeover.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To eliminate this, SSH uses a secure algorithm involving a combination of public and private cryptographic keys<\/strong> to ensure any information exchanged between your computer and your hosting server is inaccessible to third parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Shell<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a computing context, a Shell <\/strong>is the interface you use to interact with the operating system. If you use Windows, the shell consists of things like the desktop, taskbar, Start menu, close, restore, and minimize buttons, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to Unix-based operating systems like Linux<\/strong>, the shell is more often associated with the Terminal<\/strong> – the program that reads the commands you enter and tells the computer what needs to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when you use SSH, you establish a secure connection to your server and send commands. The shell interprets them and tells Linux what you want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Establishing an SSH Connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to open an SSH connection to your server is to use your computer’s own command-line interface. Windows users can use PowerShell <\/strong>or Command Prompt<\/strong>, and if you have a Mac or another Unix-based OS – the Terminal<\/strong> is the easiest way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ssh [your username]@[your server’s IP or hostname]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your computer will try to establish a connection on port 22<\/strong> on your server. Bear in mind that your host may use a different SSH port for security reasons. If that’s the case, you’ll need to add -p <\/em><\/strong>followed by the port number to the command above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The server then asks you for your password<\/strong>, and after successful authentication, it opens the shell so you can start executing commands. Another option is to use a dedicated SSH client<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PuTTy<\/strong> is the most popular one, mainly because it’s lightweight and available for pretty much any platform you can think of. It remembers your session information and login credentials<\/strong>, so you don’t have to enter your password whenever you want to use it. Furthermore, it enables authentication via SSH keys<\/strong><\/a> – a more convenient and secure alternative to the regular password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the basics explained, it’s time to see what you can do once an SSH connection is established.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Useful SSH Commands for Website Owners and Developers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Useful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What you do with your server over SSH depends mainly on what sort of access you have. If your host gives you root privileges<\/strong>, you can do whatever you want. You can install new software, apply updates, change core server settings, update configuration files, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you don’t need root access for everything. Quite a few commands don’t require full control over the server but can still help you manage your project. Let’s have a look at some of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n