You’re all set to log into your remote server using PuTTY. You feel the excitement, type in the IP address… and boom — an error pops up. It says: Network Error: Connection Refused. Ugh. Not fun.
But don’t worry! This is a common frustration for beginners and pros alike. The good news? It’s fixable. And today, we break it down in a super simple, even fun, way.
What Does “Connection Refused” Mean?
Think of it like knocking on someone’s door, but they either:
1. Aren’t home.
2. Don’t want to talk to you.
3. Have no doorbell.
It means PuTTY tried to connect, but the server either didn’t answer or blocked the request. Let’s explore why that happens and how to fix it.
Step 1: Check the IP Address and Port
Are you sure you typed the right IP address?
- Type carefully. One wrong digit can lead to disaster.
- Ensure you’re using the correct port for SSH. That’s usually port 22.
Tip: If the server admin changed the port from 22 to something else, use that custom port.
Still getting the error? No worries. Next!
Step 2: Is the SSH Service Even Running?
This is a common cause. The server might be up, but its SSH service isn’t running. That’s like the house existing — but there’s no door to knock on!
- Log into the server (if you have other access).
- Run this command to check SSH status:
sudo systemctl status ssh
Don’t see it running? Start it up like this:
sudo systemctl start ssh
And if you want it to start automatically every time:
sudo systemctl enable ssh
[ai-img]ssh service linux terminal command[/ai-img]
Step 3: Firewalls Can Be Party Poopers
Firewalls are great at protecting your system. But sometimes they block good guys like your SSH connection.
- Use this to check firewall rules on your server:
sudo ufw status
- If port 22 isn’t allowed, add it like this:
sudo ufw allow 22
(Replace 22 with your custom SSH port if needed!)
Step 4: Is Something Listening on Port 22?
SSH needs to be listening to incoming requests. Here’s how you check:
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep :22
If nothing shows up, SSH isn’t listening. Time to check configuration files or restart SSH.
Don’t forget to verify your server has no syntax errors that crash the SSH service. This command helps:
sudo sshd -t
Step 5: Is the Server Even Alive?
Try to ping the server:
ping your.server.ip
If there’s no response, the server might be:
- Shut down
- Offline
- Behind a network that blocks pings
[ai-img]server offline ping failed network check[/ai-img]
Step 6: Check PuTTY Configuration
Open PuTTY and go through your settings:
- Host Name (or IP address): Is it correct?
- Port: Did you use the right one?
- Connection Type: Make sure “SSH” is selected, not “Telnet” or “Raw”
Save session settings so you don’t have to redo this every time.
Extra Tips
Here are some bonus moves just in case none of the above help:
- Try connecting from another computer.
- Restart your router or modem — network glitches do happen!
- Ask your hosting provider if there’s a block or outage.
In Conclusion
The “Connection Refused” error is annoying for sure. But now, you’ve got a toolkit to tackle it like a pro. Whether it’s a misconfigured SSH service, pesky firewall, or something as simple as a typo — you’re ready.
So plug in those commands, tweak those settings, and show that error who’s boss.
Happy SSH-ing!
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