Install and configure openssh-server

First install and configure the openssh server ... run the following commands

sudo apt-get install openssh-server

sudo cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config ~

Edit the ssh configuration file to disallow root logins.

sudo gedit /etc/ssh/sshd_config

PermitRootLogin no

The next thing I like to setup is to setup logins without having to type in the password from other computers on the network.

generate an RSA key for the client computer (in this case my laptop)

ssh-keygen -t rsa

make a directory on the server you are trying to connect to:

ssh nallison@grote-ubuntu mkdir -p .ssh

put the key on the server you are trying to connect to:

cat .ssh/id_rsa.pub | ssh nallison@grote-ubuntu 'cat >> .ssh/authorized_keys'