Overview
This article explains the different SSH shells available at DreamHost.
Background
A shell is a program that allows a person to interact with a computer's operating system by typing commands into a terminal application. The program is called a shell because it acts as an outer layer that surrounds the operating system.
DreamHost offers four types of shells you can use with your web server.
To use the shell you need to activate a Shell User in your panel. View the Creating a user with Shell (SSH) access article for detailed instructions.
Changing the shell type
To change the type of shell:
- Navigate to the SFTP Users & Files page.
- To the right of your username, click the Login info button.
- Click the Shell Type dropdown and select a shell type.
The panel automatically saves the new shell type when it's selected.
Available shells at DreamHost
You are able to configure the following shells on your DreamHost server.
Bash
Bash is the default shell configured on all DreamHost servers. The executable on the server is located at:
/bin/bash
Korn
Ksh (Korn Shell) provides an interactive programming language used for developing applications. The executable on the server is located at:
/usr/bin/ksh
Tcsh
Tcsh is an improved version of C shell with new features and functionality. The executable on the server is located at:
/usr/bin/tcsh
Zsh
Zsh is a shell designed primarily for interactive use, combining features from Bash, Ksh, and Tcsh. The executable on the server is located at:
/usr/bin/zsh
Fixing the backspace key
By default, your backspace key may not work properly in Zsh. To fix it, execute the following:
[server]$ echo "bindkey '^?' backward-delete-char" >> ~/.zshrc [server]$ echo "bindkey '^[[3~' delete-char" >> ~/.zshrc