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SSH Access to the MangoGT

SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted command-line access to the MangoGT's Linux operating system. Use SSH for system administration, service management, configuration file editing, log review, and troubleshooting tasks that go beyond what the Mango web interface provides.

Prerequisites​

  • The MangoGT must be powered on and connected to your network
  • You need the MangoGT's IP address or hostname (mangogtXXXX.local)
  • You need the Linux OS password (found on the sticker inside the MangoGT box)
note

The SSH port on the MangoGT is 2222, not the standard SSH port 22. Make sure to specify this port when connecting.

SSH Client Software​

Windows​

Modern versions of Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in SSH client accessible from the Command Prompt or PowerShell. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated SSH client:

  • PuTTY -- Download PuTTY. A popular, free SSH client with a graphical interface. Download the .msi installer for the easiest setup.
  • Windows Terminal -- Included with Windows 11 and available from the Microsoft Store for Windows 10. Supports SSH natively.

macOS and Linux​

SSH is built into the terminal on macOS and Linux. No additional software is needed.

Connecting from Windows (PuTTY)​

  1. Open PuTTY
  2. In the Session configuration, enter the following:
    • Host Name: mango@<your MangoGT IP> (for example, mango@192.168.1.100)
    • Port: 2222
    • Connection type: SSH
  1. Click Open to initiate the connection
  2. If this is your first connection, PuTTY will display a security alert about the host key. Click Accept to trust the MangoGT's key and continue.
  3. Enter the password from the sticker inside the MangoGT box when prompted

After successful authentication, you will see the MangoGT welcome screen and a command prompt.

Connecting from macOS or Linux​

Open a terminal and run:

ssh mango@mangogtXXXX.local -p 2222

Replace XXXX with your MangoGT's serial number, or use the IP address:

ssh mango@192.168.1.100 -p 2222

Enter the password when prompted. On the first connection, you will be asked to accept the host key fingerprint -- type yes to continue.

Useful Commands​

Once connected via SSH, the following commands are commonly used for MangoGT administration:

File System Navigation​

# List files in the current directory (long format)
ll

# Show the current directory path
pwd

# Navigate to the Mango installation directory
cd /opt/mango

Mango Service Management​

# Stop the Mango service
sudo service mango stop

# Start the Mango service
sudo service mango start

# Restart the Mango service
sudo service mango restart

# Check the Mango service status
sudo service mango status
note

The sudo prefix is required for service management commands because they require root privileges. You will not be prompted for an additional password -- the mango user has passwordless sudo access for service commands.

System Information​

# Check available disk space
df -h

# View network interface configuration
ifconfig

# View system memory usage
free -h

# View running processes
top

Log Files​

# View the Mango log file (last 100 lines)
tail -100 /opt/mango/logs/ma.log

# Follow the Mango log in real time
tail -f /opt/mango/logs/ma.log

# View system logs
sudo journalctl -u mango --since "1 hour ago"

Security Considerations​

  • The SSH password is unique to each MangoGT unit. Keep it in a secure location.
  • SSH uses port 2222 rather than the default port 22. This provides a minor layer of obscurity but should not be relied upon as a security measure.
  • If the MangoGT is accessible from the internet, consider configuring a firewall to restrict SSH access to trusted IP addresses, or use OpenVPN to access SSH through an encrypted tunnel.
  • Consider setting up SSH key-based authentication and disabling password authentication for stronger security in production environments.

Troubleshooting​

SymptomPossible CauseSolution
Connection refusedWrong portEnsure you are connecting to port 2222, not 22
Connection timed outMangoGT not reachableVerify the IP address and that the MangoGT is on the same network
Password rejectedWrong passwordUse the Linux OS password from the sticker, not the Mango web interface password
Host key warning on reconnectMangoGT was reimaged or replacedRemove the old host key entry from your ~/.ssh/known_hosts file and reconnect