SSH Alternative Port

Setting up an Alternative port for SSH

Reason

Virginia Tech campus blocks certain ports at the network border to the rest of the internet.

Alternatives

Besides using a different port for SSH, you could also do one of the following:

Use the VT VPN.  Most VT's users have VPN access if they have set it up.
  https://onecampus.vt.edu/task/all/installing-pulse-vpn

If the server is well established (more than just a lab server or desktop) you can request a port 22 exception from Virginia Tech.  In order to do that contact techstaff@cs.vt.edu

Setup Alternative SSH Port

We recommend adding an additional port vs replacing another port for 22. In your /etc/ssh/sshd_config modify the following line:

#Port 22

with this:

Port 22
Port 2222

Then Restart the sshd service:

sudo service sshd restart

Open the ports on your firewall

Ubuntu

sudo ufw limit 22
sudo ufw limit 2222
sudo ufw enable #if you have not already done so#
sudo ufw status #verify the changes#

CentOS

sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=22/tcp --permanent  #May not be needed#
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=2222/tcp --permanent
sudo service firewalld reload