Enabling Shell Access

DreamHost provides shell access to all of its customers, but it needs to be specifically enabled for each user added to a customer's account. In the three sections below you'll find information on creating a new user with FTP/SFTP/shell access and modifying an existing user to grant or remove FTP/SFTP/access.

Creating a new user with FTP and shell access

1. Visit the (USERS > MANAGE USERS) page of the control panel.
2. Click the [ Add New User ] link found on that page.
3. Check the 'Shell account' option. This also grants FTP access to the user.
   1. To use SFTP (a secure version of FTP), you must turn ON the option "Shell: Enable ssh/telnet". (SFTP uses the SSH protocol to transfer files.)
   2. Leave the 'Type' as it is unless you need it to be something other than bash.
4. Select a username for the person. This is what they will use to login.
5. Enter the Full Name of the person you're creating the account for.
6. Either allow the control panel to generate a password for this user or create one of your own.
   1. If allowing the control panel to generate a password, you will be presented with it on the page that follows.
7. Click the 'Add User' button.

Keep in mind that it takes about 20 minutes for this change to take effect.

Enabling/Disabling shell access for an existing user

• Shell access also provides SFTP access for the user.
• Unless the "Disallow FTP?" option is checked, it also provides FTP access to the user.

1. Visit the (Users -> Manage Users) page of the control panel.
2. Click the [ Edit ] button to the far right of the corresponding user.
3. Select the "Shell account" option.
   1. Leave the "Shell Type" as it is unless you know what you're changing.
4. Click 'Save Changes' to save the change.

Keep in mind that it takes about 10 minutes for this change to take effect.

Enabling/Disabling SFTP only access for an existing user

1. Visit the (USERS > MANAGE USERS) page of the control panel.
2. Click the [ edit ] link located next to the user you'd like to enable shell access for.
3. Check the 'SFTP account' box for that user.
   1. Leave the 'Type' as it is unless you need it to be something other than bash.
4. Click 'Save Changes' to save the change.

Keep in mind that it takes about 20 minutes for this change to take effect.