ssh for resellers

[jmftech]

Originally Posted by HalbrookTech

Based on comments on the forums, I'm of the impression that the phone and live chat reps can't/won't generally go "off script" help desk you can get more customized help.

No joy... Looks like my options are upgrade to vps, pay $10 per sub-account, or downgrade my sub-accounts to their own shared accounts. They'd each be fine on a hatchling account, I lose WHM and my "All my sites at HG" interface but I gain the ability to sync my sites securely. Downgrading's the most economical option, the monthly cost will be about the same that way, and possibly even less, since we're only talking a handful of sites. I'll be fine like that until the added cost of vps is justified. If I wasn't so satisfied with every other aspect of hosting at HG I'd look into a new host, but I am so I'm stuck here...

[quietFinn]

Originally Posted by jmftech

but I gain the ability to sync my sites securely.

Can't you write a script that connects from your account(s) using SSH?
You don't need SSH access to do that... you could run the script as a crontab job

[jmftech]

Originally Posted by quietFinn

Can't you write a script that connects from your account(s) using SSH?
You don't need SSH access to do that... you could run the script as a crontab job

I suppose so, but that wouldn't do what I'm looking for. I want to be able to initiate the syncing from my dev box, on demand, bi-directionally (sync to or from live site) and encrypted. Need to run rsync and mysql commands to do this. Need ssh for encryption. I can do this if I upgrade to a more expensive monthly (vps or dedicated) option, or if I downgrade to multiple shared accounts. I just can't do it as a reseller, go figure... If my options are pay more, keep WHM and gain ssh vs. pay the same or less, lose WHM and gain ssh I chose the latter.

[jmftech]

hmm, maybe a compromise could be reached? Seeing as how verifying that I'm not a bad guy is HG's stated purpose for requiring the fee, could I have ssh enabled, for my use, on multiple sub-accounts for one $10 fee? That would alleviate the "extra $10 for every site I set up in the future" problem by allowing me to batch my requests. Seems reasonable, no?

[jb510]

From my point of view the problem with not allowing SSH to be enabled by default on reseller sub-accounts is that it discourages best security practices, namely using FTP and MySQL over SSH. Usually I don't actually need a command line, I just want SSH Key authentication.

My assumption is that HG would trust it's resellers not to enable shell on sub-accounts that might abuse it... but I realize there are all sorts of resellers from those like me with dozens of sub-accounts to those with tens of thousands.

Maybe HG could require resellers to manually enable SSH on each sub-account (rather than being able to enable it globally by default as part of a feature pacakge)? and then caution resellers that abuse could suspend their reseller account?

[rickysmith2050]

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[zomex]

It's common knowledge that enabling SSH is a security risk in comparison to it being off. The $10 charge is more so to stop people requesting it being enabled without using it. There's also a learning curve so HostGator may have noticed that support requests are increased because of it (for example if someone accidentally deletes their fil(s)) which is why there's a fee.

I have another reseller account with another company and they allow resellers to enable SSH on sub-accounts for free but their server isn't as reliable as HG.

I recommend making a note on your website that SSH access is $15/one time (if you wish to make some profit) or simply pass the cost on. It's definitely a very small number of people that request this.

Jack

[Jimboh]

I have a reseller acct (3 yrs) hosting 15 sites for my clients, none of whom have access in any way except through their web pages (no cpanel/ftp etc).
All of my clients sites are drupal CMS sites and there is a marvelous package called drush that makes maintaining and updating the sites really simple using the command line and SSH. I now realise I would have been better off getting shared hosting accounts for each as suggested in an earlier post. I am not willing to pay $10 to activate it on each site ($150 now and I'm adding circa 5-10 sites a year) when its free to shared hosting! I also agree with the sentiment of others on this thread, It said SSH was included.. it did not say I would have to pay extra and I dont expect to have to read fine print... Generally, If I have to read the fine print then the person hiding behind it is not someone I want to do business with.

Looks like VPS is the route for me.