Changing your default Port is one of the best ways to protect your SSH server. In this blog, we will explain how to choose a new SSH port and walk you through changing it on your virtual private server (VPS).
Step 1:- Login to Your Server.
Connect to your Linux VPS server using your current SSH port. Open a terminal and use the following command, replacing ‘username’ and ‘your-server-ip’ with your actual username and server IP address.
# [ ssh username@your-server-ip ]
Step 2:- Edit the SSH Configuration File.
Once logged in, edit the SSH daemon configuration file. The location of this file can vary, but it is commonly found at ‘/etc/ssh/sshd_config’. You can use a text editor like ‘nano’ or ‘vi.’
# [ sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config ]
Step 3:- Locate the Port Setting.
Look for the line in the configuration file that specifies the port. It will look something like this.
# [ #Port 22 ]
Uncomment the line (remove the # at the beginning) and change the port number. For example:
# [ Port 2222 ]
Step 4:-Save and Close the File.
Save your changes and exit the text editor.
Step 5:- Restart the SSH Service.
To apply the changes, restart the SSH service. The command can vary depending on your Linux distribution. Common commands include:
For systems that use ‘systemd’ (e.g., Ubuntu 16.04 and later, CentOS 7 and later):
# [ sudo systemctl restart ssh ]
For systems using ‘service’ (older systems):
# [ sudo service ssh restart ]
Step 6:- Verify the New Port.
Before closing your current SSH session, open a new terminal window and attempt to reconnect using the new port.
# [ ssh -p 2222 username@your-server-ip ]
Replace ‘2222’ with the new port number.
Step 7:- Update Firewall Rules.
Start by making sure the newly selected port is not blocked. If this is a new VPS setup, all ports should be open by default. For example, using ‘ufw’ on Ubuntu.
# [ sudo ufw allow 2222 ]
# [ sudo ufw reload ]
Step 8:- Disconnect and Reconnect.
If everything is working correctly, you can now disconnect from the old SSH session and reconnect using the new port.
Note:- Remember that changing the default SSH port alone is not a foolproof security measure. Ensure that you have strong authentication methods in place, such as key-based authentication, and consider implementing additional security measures to protect your server.
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