Popular and technical in depth explanation of the SSH protocol.
The Secure Shell (SSH) protocol is a cryptographic network protocol that enables secure communication between two devices over an insecure network. It is widely used for remote access, secure file transfers, and managing network infrastructure. Let's break down how SSH works in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.
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Establishing a Connection: When an SSH client (e.g., your computer) wants to connect to an SSH server (e.g., a remote computer), it starts by initiating a "handshake" process. This involves the exchange of information, such as supported protocol versions, encryption algorithms, and other data required to establish a secure connection.
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Key Exchange and Encryption Algorithms: Both the client and server need to agree on a common set of encryption and key exchange algorithms to use for secure communication. They exchange their preferences and select the most secure algorithm that both support.