# phpman > man > GIT-SHELL(1)

[GIT-SHELL(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SHELL/1/markdown)                                 Git Manual                                 [GIT-SHELL(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SHELL/1/markdown)



## NAME
       git-shell - Restricted login shell for Git-only SSH access

## SYNOPSIS
       _chsh_ -s $(command -v git-shell) <user>
       _git_ _clone_ <user>**@localhost:/path/to/repo.git**
       _ssh_ <user>**@localhost**


## DESCRIPTION
       This is a login shell for SSH accounts to provide restricted Git access. It permits execution
       only of server-side Git commands implementing the pull/push functionality, plus custom
       commands present in a subdirectory named **git-shell-commands** in the user’s home directory.

## COMMANDS
       _git_ _shell_ accepts the following commands after the **-c** option:

       _git_ _receive-pack_ _<argument>_, _git_ _upload-pack_ _<argument>_, _git_ _upload-archive_ _<argument>_
           Call the corresponding server-side command to support the client’s _git_ _push_, _git_ _fetch_,
           or _git_ _archive_ _--remote_ request.

       _cvs_ _server_
           Imitate a CVS server. See [**git-cvsserver**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/git-cvsserver/1/markdown).

       If a **~/git-shell-commands** directory is present, _git_ _shell_ will also handle other, custom
       commands by running "**git-shell-commands/<command>** **<arguments>**" from the user’s home
       directory.

## INTERACTIVE USE
       By default, the commands above can be executed only with the **-c** option; the shell is not
       interactive.

       If a **~/git-shell-commands** directory is present, _git_ _shell_ can also be run interactively (with
       no arguments). If a **help** command is present in the **git-shell-commands** directory, it is run to
       provide the user with an overview of allowed actions. Then a "git> " prompt is presented at
       which one can enter any of the commands from the **git-shell-commands** directory, or **exit** to
       close the connection.

       Generally this mode is used as an administrative interface to allow users to list
       repositories they have access to, create, delete, or rename repositories, or change
       repository descriptions and permissions.

       If a **no-interactive-login** command exists, then it is run and the interactive shell is
       aborted.

## EXAMPLES
       To disable interactive logins, displaying a greeting instead:

           $ chsh -s /usr/bin/git-shell
           $ mkdir $HOME/git-shell-commands
           $ cat >$HOME/git-shell-commands/no-interactive-login <<\EOF
           #!/bin/sh
           printf '%s\n' "Hi $USER! You've successfully authenticated, but I do not"
           printf '%s\n' "provide interactive shell access."
           exit 128
           EOF
           $ chmod +x $HOME/git-shell-commands/no-interactive-login


       To enable git-cvsserver access (which should generally have the **no-interactive-login** example
       above as a prerequisite, as creating the git-shell-commands directory allows interactive
       logins):

           $ cat >$HOME/git-shell-commands/cvs <<\EOF
           if ! test $# = 1 && test "$1" = "server"
           then
                   echo >&2 "git-cvsserver only handles \"server\""
                   exit 1
           fi
           exec git cvsserver server
           EOF
           $ chmod +x $HOME/git-shell-commands/cvs


## SEE ALSO
       [ssh(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ssh/1/markdown), [**git-daemon**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/git-daemon/1/markdown), contrib/git-shell-commands/README

## GIT
       Part of the [**git**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/git/1/markdown) suite



Git 2.34.1                                   02/26/2026                                 [GIT-SHELL(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SHELL/1/markdown)