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Installing CYGWIN + SSHD for remote access through SSH on windows
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| Installing CYGWIN with SSH | |
| 1) Download cygwin setup.exe from http://www.cygwin.com | |
| - Execute setup.exe | |
| - Install from internet | |
| - Root directory: `c:\cygwin` + all users | |
| - Local package directory: use default value | |
| - Select a mirror to download files from | |
| - Select these packages: | |
| - editors > xemacs 21.4.22-1 | |
| - net > openssh 6.1-p | |
| - admin > cygrunsrv 1.40-2 | |
| - Click continue | |
| - When everything is installed configure SSHD | |
| 2) Configure SSHD | |
| - open a cygwin terminal: start > RIGHT MOUSE ON "Cygwin terminal" AND "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR" | |
| - $ ssh-host-config | |
| - Are you sure you want to continue: YES | |
| - You have the required privileges: YES | |
| - Overwrite existing /etc/ssh_config: YES | |
| - Should privilege separation be used: YES | |
| - Use local account 'sshd': YES | |
| - Do you want to install 'sshd' as a service: YES | |
| - name CYGWIN: just press enter | |
| - Do you want to use a different name: no | |
| +++ you can skip this ++ | |
| - Create new privileged user account (cyg_server): YES | |
| - enter password | |
| - reenter password | |
| +++ end of skip ++ | |
| 3) Add a SSHD account | |
| - Open control panel | |
| - Create a new account with administrator rights | |
| - set a password for this new account | |
| 4) Add the user to SSHD password | |
| $ cd /etc/ | |
| $ cp passwd passwd_bak | |
| $ /bin/mkpasswd.exe -l -u [new_username] >> /etc/passwd | |
| (for example: /bin/mkpasswd.exe -l -u roxlu >> /etc/passwd to add the password for roxlu) | |
| 5) Open SSHD port (22) | |
| - Open control panel | |
| - Click on System and Security | |
| - Click on Windows Firewall | |
| - On the left click on advanced settings | |
| - click: select "Inbound Rules" | |
| - click: New Rule ... | |
| - [x] Port | |
| NEXT | |
| - TCP | |
| Specific ports: 22 | |
| NEXT | |
| - [x] Allow the connection | |
| NEXT | |
| - [x] Domain | |
| [x] Private | |
| [x] Public | |
| NEXT | |
| 6) Trouble shooting | |
| - first check if you can connect to the SSHD server on the same machine: | |
| - open a Cygwin terminal | |
| $ ssh -l [username] localhost | |
| If you can't connect to the server on localhost check if the sshd daemon is running (see blow) | |
| - check if the SSHD daemon is runing | |
| - open control panel | |
| - search for "services" | |
| - click on "View local services" | |
| - search for "CYGWIN sshd" | |
| - make sure it's there, else try reinstalling sshd |
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Still useful in 2026, especially if you're forced to take this as a temp measure