Install Openssh
Install OpenSSH on Windows Server 2019 or 2022
OpenSSH is a secure remote access tool that encrypts traffic between the connecting client and a remote server. As a result, it eliminates connection hijacking, sniffing, eavesdropping, among other common network attacks. In this guide, you’ll install OpenSSH on a Windows Server.
Prerequisites
Deploy a Windows Server 2019 or 2022 Server
Connect to the server with RDP
Install OpenSSH - Method 1 : Through Windows Settings
Open the Windows Start Menu.
Locate and open Windows Settings. In the new Window, navigate to Apps, and Select Optional Features under Apps & Features.
Click Add Feature, then enter the keyword OpenSSH in the search box. Next, select OpenSSH Server from the list of results, then click Install.
Once installed, both OpenSSH Client and Server will be available on the list of Installed Features.
Install OpenSSH - Method 2 : Using Windows PowerShell
Open PowerShell as an Administrator.
Paste the following commands to Install OpenSSH Server:
Install OpenSSH Client:
Output:
To configure OpenSSH, use the following command to open the main configuration file in Notepad and make your preferred changes.
Configure Firewall ( if you disable the firewall, then no need )
Open the Windows start menu, locate and click Server Manager. In the Server Manager window, navigate to Tools, and select Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security from the drop-down list.
Now, click Inbound Rules in the open Firewall window. Then, select New Rule from the right pane.
In the New Inbound Rule Wizard, select Port from the list of options, then click Next. Select ‘TCP’, then enter port 22 in the Specific local ports: section.
Next, allow the connection, assign the rule to server profiles, and set a custom name for easy identification from the list of Firewall rules.
Click Finish to save the new firewall rule.
Login to Windows Server using SSH
First, start the OpenSSH server by entering the following command in your PowerShell terminal.
Log out of the RDP session.
Then, initiate an SSH connection from your local computer to the server using the following command:
Replace Administrator with your target username and SERVER-IP with your actual Vultr Windows server address.
Verify the server key by accepting with yes. Then, enter the user account password to connect to the remote Windows server over SSH.
Once logged in, your SSH terminal should be similar to the one below:
Conclusion
Congratulations, you have successfully installed OpenSSH on a Windows Server. To fine-tune your SSH configuration file, consider visiting the Windows SSH configuration documentation here.
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