docs/content/admin/configuration/configuring-your-enterprise/accessing-the-administrative-shell-ssh.md

title	redirect_from	intro	versions	type	topics
Accessing the administrative shell (SSH)	[/enterprise/admin/articles/ssh-access/ /enterprise/admin/articles/adding-an-ssh-key-for-shell-access/ /enterprise/admin/guides/installation/administrative-shell-ssh-access/ /enterprise/admin/articles/troubleshooting-ssh-permission-denied-publickey/ /enterprise/admin/2.13/articles/troubleshooting-ssh-permission-denied-publickey/ /enterprise/admin/2.14/articles/troubleshooting-ssh-permission-denied-publickey/ /enterprise/admin/2.15/articles/troubleshooting-ssh-permission-denied-publickey/ /enterprise/admin/installation/accessing-the-administrative-shell-ssh /enterprise/admin/configuration/accessing-the-administrative-shell-ssh /admin/configuration/accessing-the-administrative-shell-ssh]	{% data reusables.enterprise_site_admin_settings.about-ssh-access %}	[{enterprise-server *}]	how_to	[Enterprise Fundamentals SSH]

About administrative shell access

If you have SSH access to the administrative shell, you can run {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}'s command line utilities. SSH access is also useful for troubleshooting, running backups, and configuring replication. Administrative SSH access is managed separately from Git SSH access and is accessible only via port 122.

Enabling access to the administrative shell via SSH

To enable administrative SSH access, you must add your SSH public key to your instance's list of authorized keys.

{% tip %}

Tip: Changes to authorized SSH keys take effect immediately.

{% endtip %}

{% data reusables.enterprise_site_admin_settings.access-settings %} {% data reusables.enterprise_site_admin_settings.management-console %} 3. Under "SSH access", paste your key into the text box, then click Add key. {% data reusables.enterprise_management_console.save-settings %}

Connecting to the administrative shell over SSH

After you've added your SSH key to the list, connect to the instance over SSH as the admin user on port 122.

$ ssh -p 122 admin@github.example.com
Last login: Sun Nov 9 07:53:29 2014 from 169.254.1.1
admin@github-example-com:~$ █

Troubleshooting SSH connection problems

If you encounter the Permission denied (publickey) error when you try to connect to {% data variables.product.product_location %} via SSH, confirm that you are connecting over port 122. You may need to explicitly specify which private SSH key to use.

To specify a private SSH key using the command line, run ssh with the -i argument.

ssh -i /path/to/ghe_private_key -p 122 admin@<em>hostname</em>

You can also specify a private SSH key using the SSH configuration file (~/.ssh/config).

Host <em>hostname</em>
  IdentityFile /path/to/ghe_private_key
  User admin
  Port 122

Accessing the administrative shell using the local console

In an emergency situation, for example if SSH is unavailable, you can access the administrative shell locally. Sign in as the admin user and use the password established during initial setup of {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}.

Access limitations for the administrative shell

Administrative shell access is permitted for troubleshooting and performing documented operations procedures only. Modifying system and application files, running programs, or installing unsupported software packages may void your support contract. Please contact {% data variables.contact.contact_ent_support %} if you have a question about the activities allowed by your support contract.