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Connect to your Ultra slot via SSH

SSH, or Secure Shell, provides secure remote access to your Ultra service. You can use SSH to manage files, execute commands, control applications, transfer files with SFTP, and troubleshoot your service.

Do not install or run a custom shell: Do not install or run custom shells such as Zsh, Eshell, or Fish on your Ultra service. Ultra's configured shell environment is required for application-management commands and other service features.

If you are unfamiliar with the Linux command line, read Your Ultra Shell - A Beginner's Guide after connecting.

Before You Begin

You will need:

Your Ultra service hostname or IP address
Your Ultra service username
Your SSH/FTP password
An SSH client
Port 22

Your hostname, IP address, and username are available in the Connect tab of the User Control Panel.

Hostname: <servername>.usbx.me or <service-IP-address>
Username: <your-Ultra-username>
Password: <your-SSH/FTP-password>
Port: 22

Use your service username: Enter your Ultra service username when connecting with SSH. Do not enter your Client Area email address.

Set Your SSH/FTP Password

Before connecting, set an SSH/FTP password in the User Control Panel.

Log in to the User Control Panel.
Select Connect for your Ultra service.
Open the Connect tab.
Find SSH access, then click Change password.
Enter a unique password that you do not use for another account.
Use a password containing:

At least 12 characters
An uppercase letter
A lowercase letter
A number
A symbol

Click Confirm change.
Confirm that the Password successfully changed notification appears.

Choose an SSH Client

You can connect to your Ultra service with any compatible SSH client. Common options include:

OpenSSH
PuTTY
Termius

Connect With OpenSSH

OpenSSH is a command-line SSH client available on Linux, macOS, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

Check OpenSSH on Windows

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.
Run:

ssh

If Windows displays SSH usage information, OpenSSH Client is installed.
If Windows does not recognize the command, install OpenSSH Client through Windows Optional Features.

Install OpenSSH Through Windows Optional Features

The names and locations of Windows settings may differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Open Start.
Search for Optional features.
Open Optional features or Manage optional features.
Select View features or Add a feature, depending on your Windows version.

Search for OpenSSH Client.
Select OpenSSH Client.
Click Add or Install.

Wait for the installation to finish.
Return to Optional features.
Confirm that OpenSSH Client appears in the installed-features list.

You can also install OpenSSH Client by opening PowerShell as an administrator and running:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0

Install OpenSSH on Linux

OpenSSH Client is already installed on many Linux distributions. If the ssh command is unavailable, use the appropriate command for your distribution.

Ubuntu or Debian

sudo apt install openssh-client

Arch Linux or Manjaro

sudo pacman -S openssh

Fedora

sudo dnf install openssh-clients

Open an SSH Connection

Open PowerShell, Command Prompt, or a terminal.
Run one of the following commands:

ssh <username>@<service-IP-address>
ssh <username>@<servername>.usbx.me
ssh <username>@<username>.<servername>.usbx.me

Replace the placeholders with the connection details shown in the Connect tab of the User Control Panel.

For example:

ssh ultradocs@jupiter.usbx.me

Accept the Host Key

The first connection to a host displays its SSH host-key fingerprint.

Confirm that you entered the hostname or IP address shown in the User Control Panel.
If this is your first connection to the expected host, enter yes.
Press Enter.

Stop if a saved host key changes unexpectedly: Do not continue if SSH warns that a previously saved host key has changed and you were not expecting a service migration or server change. Confirm the connection details or contact Ultra support.

Enter the SSH/FTP password you set in the User Control Panel.
Press Enter.

Password characters are hidden: The terminal does not display letters, symbols, or placeholder characters while you type your password. This behavior is normal.

After successful authentication, the terminal displays your Ultra shell prompt.

Connect With PuTTY

PuTTY is a free, open-source graphical SSH client for Windows.

Install PuTTY

Download PuTTY from the official PuTTY download page.
Download the installer appropriate for your Windows architecture.
Install PuTTY.
Open PuTTY.

Configure the Connection

Select Session.
Enter your Ultra hostname or IP address in Host Name (or IP address).
Enter 22 in Port.
Select SSH as the connection type.

Save the Username

In the left navigation menu, go to Connection → Data.
Enter your Ultra service username in Auto-login username.

Configure Keepalives

This setting is optional. It may help prevent an idle SSH session from disconnecting.
Select Connection.
Enter 60 in Seconds between keepalives.

Save and Open the Session

Return to Session.
Enter a descriptive name in Saved Sessions.
Click Save.
Select the saved session.
Click Open.

Review the host-key prompt.
Accept the host key only if this is the expected Ultra host.
Enter your SSH/FTP password when prompted.
Press Enter to open your Ultra shell.

Connect With Termius

Termius is an SSH client available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It supports saved hosts, SSH keys, SFTP, and other connection-management features.

Install Termius

Download Termius from the official Termius download page.
Install and open Termius.

Create a Host

Open the Hosts screen.
Click New Host.

Enter a descriptive name in Label.
Enter your Ultra hostname or IP address in Address.
Confirm that SSH is enabled.
Enter 22 in Port.
Enter your Ultra service username in Username.
Enter your SSH/FTP password in Password.
Termius saves the host details automatically.

Open the Connection

Select the saved host.
Click Connect.
Depending on the Termius version, you may also be able to double-click the saved host to connect.

Review the host-key prompt.
Confirm that the hostname matches your Ultra service.
Click Add and continue if this is the expected host.

After successful authentication, Termius displays your Ultra shell.

For additional Termius information, see the official Termius connection documentation.

Use SSH Key Authentication

Password authentication works, but SSH keys provide a more secure and convenient login method.

An SSH key pair contains:

A private key, which remains on your device
A public key, which is added to your Ultra service
After configuring the keys, your SSH client uses the private key to authenticate against the public key on your service.

Keep your private key secure: Never upload, share, or paste your private key into your Ultra service. Only add the public key to the service. Protect the private key with a passphrase whenever possible.

For setup instructions, see Public Key Authentication.

Troubleshooting

Connection Times Out After Failed Logins

Several failed login attempts may temporarily block your IP address.

Stop attempting to connect.
Confirm that your username, hostname, and port are correct.
Reset your SSH/FTP password from the User Control Panel if necessary.
Wait at least 10 minutes.
Try connecting again with the new password.

Do not continue attempting to log in during the 10-minute waiting period. Another failed attempt may restart the temporary block.

Permission Denied

If SSH displays a Permission denied error:

Confirm that you are using your Ultra service username, not your Client Area email address.
Confirm that the hostname or IP address matches the Connect tab.
Confirm that the port is 22.
Confirm that you are using your current SSH/FTP password.
If you recently changed the password, update it in your SSH client.
Wait a few minutes, then try again.

Saved Host Key Has Changed

If SSH displays a warning such as REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED:

Do not bypass the warning without confirming why the host key changed.
Check whether your service was recently migrated or moved to another server.
Confirm that you are using the current hostname or IP address from the UCP.
Contact Ultra support if the change is unexpected.

If you require further assistance, you can open a support ticket here.