What is a shell account?

[mago]

Hi,

1. Could anyone please explain to me what a SSH Shell account is?

2. Are there any security risks with letting my web host activate this function?

3. Is the activation of a shell account likely to disrupt the other functions in Cpanel?

4. Any other conflicts that I should be aware of?

Any help appreciated!

Best regards

Mago

[NogDog]

It means you have a user account on the host which you are allowed to log into via ssh (similar to telnet but presumably more secure) and interface with the host via the command line. I don't see why it should have any impact on your web applications, but it's not my area of expertise.

[PeOfEo]

Shells are applications on the server, here is a good definition
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/shell.html

An ssh shell would just basically be an application running on the server that you talk to with ssh. Ssh is basically a way to tunnel communication, it is encrypted communication with the server that can be through various protocols. You can think of it like an encrypted telnet if you like. It is kind of hard to explain :p

If you buy a shell account on a server you are basically buying a process AFAIK. A lot of big web hosts use shells.

[mago]

Thanks for your replies. Really appreciate it!