How to enable SSH access for non root users

Question

Following the recommendations in online forums, I have configured my new Ubuntu server so that root can only be accessed via my private key.

My understanding is that I’m also supposed to create a different user account that will be used to handle root-like tasks via elevated privileges and sudo. I can create that account with appropriate privileges, but the server will not allow me to connect via SSH. The only way I can use the other account to access the server is via the Digital Ocean console. The console does not play well with my Mac’s external keyboard.

What do I need to do to enable SSH connections to other accounts? I have found instructions online which suggest changing PermitRootLogin from ‘no’ to ‘yes,’ but that seems to defeat the point of using an encrypted key to control root access. I cannot find instructions which explain how to allow password authentication for everyone EXCEPT the root user.

KFSys · Accepted Answer

Hi adelwhich,

You’ll need to create a user and add it to the sudoers group

You’ll start by creating a user called exampleuser using the adduser command while creating the user’s home directory

# useradd -m -d /home/exampleuser exampleuser

Once you’ve created the user, I’ll recommend setting a password. To do so execute:

# passwd exampleuser

Then use the usermod command to add the user to the sudo group

# usermod -aG sudo exampleuser

You can test if everything was done correctly by using the su command

# su -s /bin/bash username

You can also try and open a file somewhere. Maybe you can try and open a file in /etc just to see if you have permission to edit it.

$ sudo vi /etc/timezone

If you don’t see permission denied you are good to go.

There is something I like to point out. If you add your users to the sudoers group, they’ll have the power of a root user.

Now to allow SSH access to a certain user

Update on 10.07.2021 Initially, this answer contained information how to enable a user or a group to SSH however this has been outdated.

As such, I’ve updated the answer to providing information on how to configure your SSH keys on the user.

Now that you have the user-created, SSH to your Droplet using the root user and switch to the newly created one:

# su -s /bin/bash username

Once inside, go to your home folder with the cd command

$ cd

If you followed the whole answer this will bring you in the /home/exampleuser directory.

Now, you need to create the folder .ssh and an authorized_keys file, you can do it like that:

$ mkdir /home/exampleuser/.ssh                                                                                $ touch /home/exampleuser/.ssh/authorized_keys                                                                $ chmod 600 /home/exampleuser/.ssh/authorized_keys

All that is left to do is copy your SSH key in the authorized_keys file and you are good to go.

Kind regards, KFSys