Command line access failing.
CONNECTION REFUSED
Nothing is listening on that port.
Check the port. Shared hosting frequently does not use the default 22. Check cPanel > SSH Access or your welcome email.
Check whether SSH is enabled on your plan. If it is not listed in cPanel, open a ticket and ask.
PERMISSION DENIED WITH A PASSWORD
The username or password is wrong. The username is your cPanel username.
If password authentication is disabled, you need a key.
PERMISSION DENIED WITH A KEY
The key is not authorised. In cPanel > SSH Access > Manage SSH Keys, confirm the key shows as authorised. A key that exists but is not authorised does not work.
Check the private key file permissions: 600. SSH refuses keys with looser permissions.
CHECK YOU ARE OFFERING THE RIGHT KEY
If you have several, specify which explicitly.
HOST KEY VERIFICATION FAILED
The server's fingerprint changed, usually after a migration. Remove the old entry from your known_hosts file and reconnect.
IF NOTHING WORKS
Use the cPanel Terminal, which needs no local configuration.
