# Configuring SSH access to the SMC Appliance

You can access the SMC Appliance command line through SSH.

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Note: In FIPS mode, SSH access to the SMC Appliance is not allowed.
Two authentication options are available:

- Logon and password — All administrators with unrestricted permissions (superusers) in SMC can use their password to log on to the SMC Appliance through SSH.
- Public and private key — You can generate a public and private RSA key pair for each administrator or server. For more information about using an RSA key pair to authenticate to the SMC Appliance, see Knowledge Base article 12503.