Raspberry Pi SSH Server Setup

Step-by-step instructions for setting up a SSH Server on a Raspberry Pi.

These procedures apply to Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit) or (Legacy, 32-Bit).

General Notes

1. General: The procedures below are optimized for setting up a SSH Server on a Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit) or (Legacy, 32-Bit).

2. Internet access during setup: Many of the steps below assume and require the target Raspberry Pi is connected to a network with access to the Internet.

Notice about updates, upgrades and installations failing due to repository or network congestion or outages

Occasionally updates, upgrades and installations fail due to repository or network congestion or outages. Sometimes there is an appropriate message saying as such, sometimes a missing file is reported, and sometimes there is just a failure message without an explanation. When this occurs, simply run the command again. If that does not solve the issues immediately, try again later.

Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/os.html

Connect to the target Raspberry Pi

Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen share then open a Terminal window.

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect

- or -

Via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse, then open a Terminal window.

Enable SSH

Notes:

SSH is preinstalled in Raspberry Pi OS, but is disabled by default. However, it may have been enabled as an option in Raspberry Pi Imager during SD Card setup. If you are uncertain, there is no danger in enabeling it here as well.

Port used by SSH: 22, Type TCP

Update Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Download the latest package lists

sudo apt update -y

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Enable SSH

Via Raspberry Pi Config

sudo raspi-config

Interface Options | SSH | Yes | OK | Finish | Yes

- or -

Via the Raspberry Pi GUI (Desktop)

Click on "Start" (Raspberry) On the left side of the Task Bar at the top of the Raspberry Pi desktop
Click on "Preferences"
Click on "Control Centre"
Click on the "Interfaces"
Click on the "SSH:" | On
Click on the "Close" Button

Connect to the target Raspberry Pi via SSH (Optional)

Determine the target Raspberry Pi IP Address:

Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen share then open a Terminal window.

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect
sudo hostname -I
- or -

Connect directly to the target Raspberry Pi via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse, then open a Terminal window.

sudo hostname -I
- or -

Use an IP Scanner tool such as Advanced IP Scanner on a PC or alike to locate the DHCP IP Address assigned to the Raspberry Pi.

https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com
- or -

Login to your router and examine the DHCP assignments, sometimes labeled "Connected Devices" or similar.

Use SSH via a tool such as PuTTY to connect to the Raspberry Pi.

https://putty.software/
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html
https://www.putty.org
Connect using the IP address determined above or URL of the target Raspberry Pi.
Note: The first time a connection is made, a security warning may be displayed | Yes

Remove packages that were automatically installed and are no longer required

Occasionally excess update, upgrade and installation packages install automatically, but are no longer required and can be removed automatically.

Automatically detect and remove packages no longer required

sudo apt autoremove -y

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