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# What the heck is SSH?
- URL: https://snubmonkey.com/what-is-ssh/
- Published: 2020-12-26T03:44:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-04-17T23:13:41.000Z
- Description: Secure Shell (SSH), sometimes referred to as Secure Socket Shell, is a protocol that enables secure connection to a remote computer or server through a text-based interface.
- Author: Aleksandra Sloan
- Tags: SSH 🕳, linux 🐧

**SSH (Secure Shell)** is a cryptographic network protocol used for securely accessing and managing devices over an unsecured network. It's widely used by **system and network administrators**, as well as anyone who needs to manage a computer remotely with strong security.

## **How SSH Works?**

To establish an SSH connection, two components are required:

- SSH Client:  
This is the application installed on the local machine—the one you’re using to initiate the connection. The client uses the remote host's information to send a connection request. If the credentials are valid, an encrypted connection is established.
- **SSH Server (Daemon)**:  
On the remote machine, an **SSH daemon** (sshd) runs in the background, continuously listening on a specific TCP/IP port (default: port 22). When a client attempts to connect, the daemon responds with the SSH protocol version and software information, initiating the handshake process.

## **OpenSSH**

**OpenSSH** is a widely used open-source implementation of the SSH protocol, commonly included in most Linux distributions. Installing and configuring OpenSSH is straightforward and well-documented.

> **Note:** Ubuntu does not include an SSH server by default. You'll need to manually install openssh-server to enable incoming SSH connections.

  
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