Manage SSH Keys in your Account Manager

SSH keys (Secure Shell) are important for cybersecurity, as they provide a secure method for authenticating and protecting communications between computers over networks. With Bluehost, you can add and manage SSH keys through your Account Manager.

In this article, we will guide you through navigating your SSH Management panel and managing your SSH keys.

• Accessing the SSH Management Panel
• Adding SSH Keys to the Account Manager
• Managing the SSH Keys
• Summary

Accessing the SSH Management Panel

The Account Manager now has the SSH Management panel, where you can add and manage your SSH keys and securely connect to your hosting server.

Already logged into your Account Manager? If you are already logged into your Account Manager, you can use the following link to add and manage your SSH keys:

• https://www.bluehost.com/my-account/hosting/details/ssh-keys

Not yet logged into your Account Manager? If you have not logged in to your Account Manager yet, please follow these steps.

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click Websites on the left side of the navigation menu.

   

   You can also click on the Hosting tab, locate the hosting package you need to manage, and click its MANAGE button.

   

3. On the website management page, locate the website you need to manage and click its SETTINGS button.

   

4. Click the ADVANCED tab on the top menu.

   

5. In the SSH Keys section, make sure the toggle is ON. This means SSH access is enabled in your hosting account.

   

6. Once you click the MANAGE button, you'll be routed to the SSH Management panel.
   

Adding SSH Keys to the Account Manager

Follow these steps below to add your SSH keys to your Account Manager.

Step 1: Generate the SSH Keys

To add your SSH keys to your Account Manager, you first need to generate your private and public keys. Please visit our support guide, Generate SSH Keys: Windows & macOS/Unix (PowerShell, PuTTY), for detailed instructions.

Step 2: Add the SSH Keys to the SSH Management Panel

After generating your private and public keys, navigate to the SSH Management panel in your Account Manager to add them.

1. In the Manage SSH Keys section of the SSH Management panel, click the ADD SSH KEY button on the right.

   

2. In the Add a Public Key pop-up, enter a key name and your generated public key.

   

3. Click the ADD button. You should now see the new SSH Key under the Manage SSH Keys section.

Managing the SSH Keys

In the SSH Management panel, you can take the following actions to manage your SSH keys.

• Toggle the Shell access on/off
• View the SSH key details
• Delete an SSH key

You can also access support guides to learn more about SSH keys, including how to use an external client, basic SSH commands, and common SSH errors.

Toggle the Shell Access On/Off

In addition to the toggle found in the SSH Keys card under the Advanced tab, you can also enable or disable SSH access in the SSH Management panel.

1. Click the toggle under Shell Access.

   

2. A notification will appear at the top of the page confirming whether SSH access has been enabled or disabled.

View the SSH Key Details

1. In the Manage SSH Keys section, locate the SSH key for which you want to view the details.
2. Click the vertical ellipsis icon on the right, then select View Key.

   

3. In the View Public Key pop-up, you can copy the public key by clicking the COPY link in the bottom-right corner.

   

Delete an SSH Key

1. In the Manage SSH Keys section, locate the SSH key you want to delete.
2. Click the vertical ellipsis icon on the right, then select Delete Key.

   

3. In the Delete Key pop-up, click the DELETE button to confirm the removal of the SSH key.

   

   The SSH key has now been removed from the Manage SSH Keys section.

Summary

SSH keys provide a secure method to authenticate and connect to devices, as well as protect communication. This offers more benefits than traditional passwords. They enable safe logins without the use of passwords and boost security. SSH key management is done through the Bluehost Account Manager, allowing you to add, manage, and delete keys, as well as control access. Using SSH keys helps secure remote server connections while improving convenience.