OpenSSH Server is installed by default on FreeBSD. But on a fresh FreeBSD system, remote SSH logins are not allowed. You must enable SSH access yourself to access your FreeBSD server via SSH. This brief guide will explain how to enable SSH on FreeBSD. All steps provided below are tested on FreeBSD 12.

Enable SSH On FreeBSD

If you don't have created any normal users on your system yet, create one first.

For example, I am going to create an user named ostechnix using command:

# adduser

You will be prompted to answer a couple questions. Answer them accordingly.

Next, edit /etc/rc.conf file:

# vi /etc/rc.conf

Add the following line at the end:

sshd_enable="YES"

Hit ESC and type :wq to save and quit the file.

Finally, start SSH service:

# /etc/rc.d/sshd start

Done! Now you can access your FreeBSD server via SSH from any system on the network like below.

$ ssh [email protected]

Replace [email protected] in the above command with your user name and ip address.

As you may already know, when you SSH into a FreeBSD server for the first time, you will be prompted to verify the server's fingerprint. Simply type Yes to continue and type the password of the user.

Sample output:

The authenticity of host '192.168.225.27 (192.168.225.27)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:BO3aI3fuRdpYDgoSohbYrMi/LH9wx9hAZNf0uQ64snI.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added '192.168.225.27' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
Password for [email protected]:
FreeBSD 12.0-RELEASE-p10 GENERIC 

Welcome to FreeBSD!

Release Notes, Errata: https://www.FreeBSD.org/releases/
Security Advisories:   https://www.FreeBSD.org/security/
FreeBSD Handbook:      https://www.FreeBSD.org/handbook/
FreeBSD FAQ:           https://www.FreeBSD.org/faq/
Questions List: https://lists.FreeBSD.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions/
FreeBSD Forums:        https://forums.FreeBSD.org/

Documents installed with the system are in the /usr/local/share/doc/freebsd/
directory, or can be installed later with:  pkg install en-freebsd-doc
For other languages, replace "en" with a language code like de or fr.

Show the version of FreeBSD installed:  freebsd-version ; uname -a
Please include that output and any error messages when posting questions.
Introduction to manual pages:  man man
FreeBSD directory layout:      man hier

Edit /etc/motd to change this login announcement.
To see the last time that you logged in, use lastlogin(8).
		-- Dru <[email protected]>
$

Enable SSH Root Access

By default, SSH root login is disabled for security purposes on FreeBSD. So, you can't access your FreeBSD server via SSH as root user. It is strongly recommended to leave SSH root login disabled and use a non-privileged user and allow SSH access to that user as described aove. However, you can change this behavior and allow SSH access to the root user if you really want to.

Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config file:

# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Find the following line:

#PermitRootLogin no

Uncomment it by removing the # symbol and change it's value to yes like below:

PermitRootLogin yes

Save and quit the file. Restart SSH service using command:

# /etc/rc.d/sshd restart

Now you can be able to login via SSH as root user from any system on the network using command.

ssh [email protected]

Sample output:

Password for [email protected]:
Last login: Tue Sep 3 16:41:44 2019
FreeBSD 12.0-RELEASE-p10 GENERIC

Welcome to FreeBSD!

Release Notes, Errata: https://www.FreeBSD.org/releases/
Security Advisories: https://www.FreeBSD.org/security/
FreeBSD Handbook: https://www.FreeBSD.org/handbook/
FreeBSD FAQ: https://www.FreeBSD.org/faq/
Questions List: https://lists.FreeBSD.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions/
FreeBSD Forums: https://forums.FreeBSD.org/

Documents installed with the system are in the /usr/local/share/doc/freebsd/
directory, or can be installed later with: pkg install en-freebsd-doc
For other languages, replace "en" with a language code like de or fr.

Show the version of FreeBSD installed: freebsd-version ; uname -a
Please include that output and any error messages when posting questions.
Introduction to manual pages: man man
FreeBSD directory layout: man hier

Edit /etc/motd to change this login announcement.
[email protected]:~ #

Again, enabling SSH access for root account is not recommended. I strongly suggest you to use a non-privileged user and leave SSH root login disabled.