# Enable Telnet and SSH: SSH Configuration.
_Secure Shell or SSH is a secure protocol and the replacement for Telnet and other insecure remote shell protocols. So for secure communication between network devices, I strongly recommend using SSH instead of Telnet._
_Configure SSH on Cisco routers and switches with the below step by step guide to SSH configuration._
Enable Telnet and SSH on Cisco Router
Enable Telnet and SSH on Cisco Router
## 1. Open the router R1 console line and create domain and user name.
**R1>enable**
**R1>configure terminal**
**R1(config)#ip domain-name renu.ws**
**R1(config)#username cisco Password cisco**
**R1(config)#**
## 2. When done, just follow and generate the encryption keys for securing the ssh session.
**R1(config)#crypto key generate rsa**
**How many bits in the modulus [512]: 1024**
**% Generating 1024 bit RSA keys, keys will be non-exportable…[OK]**
**R1(config)#**
## 3. Now enable SSH version 2, set time out duration and login attempt time on the router. Remember this message if you going to use ssh version 2 “Please create RSA keys (of at least 768 bits size) to enable SSH v2.”
**R1(config)#ip ssh version 2**
**R1(config)#ip ssh time-out 50**
**R1(config)#ip ssh authentication-retries 4**
## 4. Enable vty lines and configure access protocols.
**R1(config)#line vty 0**
**R1(config-line)#transport input ssh**
**R1(config-line)#password cisco**
**R1(config-line)#logging synchronous**
**R1(config-line)#motd-banner**
**R1(config-line)#exit**
**R1(config)#exit**
**R1# wr mem**
## 5.Testing SSH Connectivity
Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0
**PC>ssh -l cisco yourrouterIP**
Open
**Password:**
**R1>enable**
**Password:**
**R1#configure terminal**
**Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.**
**R1(config)#**
Here, I have connected successfully and the connection is secured with Secure Shell.