How to install git on shared hosting and deploy a site over SSH

Review Hosting Bureau sets out how to configure your environment to deploy a site over ssh once you confirm your host provides the git binary. Shared hosting environments usually include git as a standard utility, meaning you do not need to perform a manual installation if your provider includes the tool in their default software stack.

SSH, which is a secure way to log into a remote computer, allows you to push code directly to your web directory.

Deployment works by pulling files from a local repository into the public folder on the server. You can explore how shared hosting works while using a repository, which is a digital storage space where your project files and their version history are kept.

SSH provides the connection to your web server

SSH is a protocol used to securely access and manage a remote computer over the internet. It creates a secure tunnel for you to send commands to your hosting server. You need this connection to interact with the server files and run Git commands.

Shared hosting determines your access to server software

Shared hosting is a service where multiple websites reside on a single physical server. The provider manages the underlying operating system and software installations for all users. This matters because you may not have the administrative rights to install new software like Git.

Ways to get git on shared hosting

You do not install git on shared hosting because the host provides the software. Most shared hosting plans include git as a pre-installed system utility. If you want to compare reseller hosting with shared hosting, you can access the git tool through an ssh terminal to manage your files.

Supported installation methods

1. Open a terminal application on your local computer to connect to your host.
2. Enter the ssh command with your credentials to establish a remote connection.
3. Type the git –version command to confirm the shared hosting install git status.
4. Verify the output displays a version number to confirm git is active.

How do I install git on a shared hosting account?

Shared hosting providers pre-install git on their infrastructure. You do not perform a manual installation. To confirm git is available, log in to your account via ssh and run the git command. If the terminal returns a version number, the software is ready for use.

What if my hosting provider does not allow me to install software?

If your hosting provider does not allow software installation, you cannot run the git command directly on the server. Shared hosting environments often restrict binary execution to maintain stability for all users. You must use an alternative method to move files from your local machine to the remote directory.

Use File Manager or SFTP

Many shared hosting platforms use cPanel or Plesk to manage user accounts. These interfaces often provide a File Manager tool to upload files manually or via a web interface. You can also use SFTP to move files, which connects to the filesystem without requiring git to be installed on the host, and you can understand how neighbouring sites affect your speed.

Solutions when shared environments limit software

You can resolve this by using a deployment script on your local computer. This script pushes your code to a remote folder using rsync or scp. These tools transfer files over SSH without needing the git binary on the remote side.

Steps to install git via SSH

Connect to a shared hosting server via SSH by using a terminal application or a dedicated client. A terminal provides a command line interface for Linux and macOS systems. Putty serves as a popular SSH client for Windows users. You need the server IP address, a username, and a password or private key to establish the connection.

SSH connection commands

1. Open a terminal or Putty application to initiate the connection process.
2. Enter the command ssh username@host_ip_address to begin the handshake.
3. Input the provided password when the server requests authentication for the user.
4. Verify the connection by checking that the command prompt displays the remote host name.

Pulling the latest changes from your repository

Use the git pull command to transfer the latest code from a remote repository to the host. This action updates the local files on the shared hosting environment. Verify the update by checking the file timestamps or running a git log command.

How do I configure my SSH keys for secure deployment?

You configure my ssh keys by generating a unique pair of cryptographic files on your local computer and placing the public key on the remote host. This method allows you to authenticate via SSH without typing a password. The private key stays on your machine, while the public key identifies your machine to the host.

Hosting deployment configuration

1. Run the ssh-keygen command in your local terminal to generate a new key pair.
2. Verify the creation of the files by checking the .ssh directory for a new private key and a public key.
3. Copy the contents of the public key file to the authorized_keys file in the home directory of the remote account.
4. Test the connection by running ssh to the host address to see if the terminal grants access without a password prompt.

Automating the deployment process using a hook

Git hooks automate actions by executing scripts during specific lifecycle events. A hook is a script that triggers automatically when a specific action, such as a code push, occurs. A post-receive hook triggers a script to sync files to the web directory. This script restores the site files from the repository to the public folder.

Cloning your repository with git

To clone a repository to a web server, use the git clone command followed by the repository URL via SSH. This command replicates the source code from a remote host to the local directory on the shared hosting environment. To compare root access with SSH access, understand that the operation succeeds when the command finishes without errors and the directory contains the project files.

1. Connect to the web server using an SSH client to access the command line interface.
2. Navigate to the target directory using the cd command to verify the current path.
3. Run the git clone command with the repository URL from GitHub or GitLab to download the code. Cloning is the process of creating an exact copy of a remote repository onto your local or server machine.
4. Verify the file presence by listing the contents of the new directory to confirm the clone finished.

Recommended directory paths

• /home/username/public_html
• /home/username/repositories

Choosing the correct folder for the repository

Select a directory that sits outside the public_html folder to protect source files from direct web access. Move the compiled files into the public_html folder to mount the site for public viewing. This separation keeps the Git metadata and configuration files private.

Install git on shared hosting and deploy your site via SSH

Deciding whether to use git on shared hosting requires verifying your current environment and permissions before beginning the technical setup.

Deployment preparation checklist

1. Identify your current hosting plan details. Locate your account summary in your hosting dashboard. Confirm that your plan includes SSH access and a terminal interface.
2. Verify git availability on the server. Run the command 'git –version' in your terminal. A version number confirms git is installed; an error means you must request a manual installation.
3. Request shell access from your hosting provider. Contact your hosting provider's support team to enable SSH. Success is confirmed when you can successfully log in via a terminal client.
4. Check your disk space and file limits. Review your account limits in the control panel. Ensure your project size is well below the maximum allowed storage to avoid deployment failures.
5. Test a small repository deployment. Push a single test file to the server. If the file appears in your public directory, your git deployment workflow is ready.

Frequently asked questions