How to change OpenSSH port on CentOS 7

centos, linux, security, ssh

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Before beginning#

These are the steps to do on the SSH server.

Be sure to do all the steps before exiting SSH connection if you are connected via SSH.

This config was tested for default CentOS 7 iso.

You can start by backup your current SSH configuration :

sudo cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.bck

You can now open the default SSH configuration file :

sudo vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Un-comment the Port line and change the value.

Port 44223

Save the file.

By default, SELinux only allow port 22 for SSH. So you need to enable the new port through SELinux :

sudo semanage port -a -t ssh_port_t -p tcp 44223

You can now restart the SSH server :

sudo systemctl restart sshd.service

Verify that SSH is now running on the new port :

ss -tnlp | grep ssh

You may want to try the SSH connexion with another user before exiting your current SSH session.

You can now use the new port number :

ssh user@example.com -p 44223

That's it !