How to Fix the SSH “Connection Refused” Error on Linux

The SSH "connection refused" error can prevent you from accessing remote machines on a network. Here's how you can troubleshoot it.

SSH is a network protocol that allows you to securely access and manage a remote system over a network. While connecting to a remote machine via SSH, you might have encountered the "connection refused" error. Experiencing this issue can be frustrating especially if you are a system admin and have to perform some tasks on the remote system on an urgent basis.

Let's look at some of the possible causes of getting the SSH "connection refused" error and methods to resolve it.