How To Enable Or Disable SSH/Shell Access For End Users In WHM?

Enabling or disabling SSH (Secure Shell) access for end users in WHM (Web Host Manager) allows you to control which accounts can access the server via SSH. Here’s how you can manage SSH access for users:

How to Enable or Disable SSH Access for End Users in WHM

• Log in to WHM:

Access WHM by going to http://yourserverip:2087 or https://yourserverip:2087.

Enter your WHM username and password to log in.

2. Navigate to Account Functions:

In the WHM interface, find the Account Functions section in the left sidebar.

3. Access Manage Shell Access:

Click on Manage Shell Access.

4. Select the Account:

You will see a list of accounts on your server.

Find and select the account for which you want to enable or disable SSH access.

5. Enable or Disable SSH Access:

To Enable SSH Access:

Select /bin/bash or another shell option (e.g., /usr/local/cpanel/bin/jailshell for jailshell) from the drop-down menu next to the account.

Click Change to apply the changes.

To Disable SSH Access:

Select /sbin/nologin or /usr/local/cpanel/bin/jailshell (depending on your configuration) from the drop-down menu next to the account.

Click Change to apply the changes.

6. Confirm Changes:

Verify that the SSH access status for the account has been updated as desired.

Additional Information

SSH Shell Options:

/bin/bash: Provides full shell access.

/usr/local/cpanel/bin/jailshell: Provides restricted shell access (jailshell), which limits users to their home directory and prevents them from accessing the rest of the system.

/sbin/nologin: Disables shell access entirely.

Security Considerations

Be cautious when enabling SSH access, especially for shared hosting environments. Make sure users have strong passwords and consider using key-based authentication for enhanced security.

For security reasons, it’s generally a good practice to restrict SSH access to only those who need it and monitor SSH logs for any unusual activity.

Automated Tools:

Some WHM installations may have automated tools or scripts to manage SSH access based on user roles or other criteria. Check your server’s documentation or management tools for additional options.

By following these steps, you can manage SSH access for end users on your WHM server, allowing you to maintain control over who can access the server via the command line.