Retest as-is: root@f:~# dpkg -l openssh-server Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold | Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend |/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad) ||/ Name Version Architecture Description +++-==============-============-============-================================================================= ii openssh-server 1:8.2p1-4 amd64 secure shell (SSH) server, for secure access from remote machines root@f:~# systemctl stop ssh root@f:~# mv /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/something_else root@f:~# cat > /etc/ssh/sshd_config < Include /etc/ssh/something_else > Port 7722 > EOF root@f:~# systemctl start ssh root@f:~# systemctl status ssh ● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled) Active: active (running) since Wed 2020-06-17 11:23:58 UTC; 4s ago Docs: man:sshd(8) man:sshd_config(5) Process: 60797 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/sshd -t (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Main PID: 60798 (sshd) Tasks: 1 (limit: 38269) Memory: 2.6M CGroup: /system.slice/ssh.service └─60798 sshd: /usr/sbin/sshd -D [listener] 0 of 10-100 startups Jun 17 11:23:58 f systemd[1]: Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server... Jun 17 11:23:58 f sshd[60798]: Server listening on 0.0.0.0 port 7722. Jun 17 11:23:58 f sshd[60798]: Server listening on :: port 7722. Jun 17 11:23:58 f systemd[1]: Started OpenBSD Secure Shell server. Jun 17 11:23:58 f sshd[60798]: Server listening on 0.0.0.0 port 22. Jun 17 11:23:58 f sshd[60798]: Server listening on :: port 22. Confirmed. Installing from proposed: root@f:~# apt install openssh-server Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following additional packages will be installed: openssh-client openssh-sftp-server Suggested packages: keychain libpam-ssh monkeysphere ssh-askpass molly-guard The following packages will be upgraded: openssh-client openssh-server openssh-sftp-server 3 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 38 not upgraded. Need to get 1101 kB of archives. After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 openssh-sftp-server amd64 1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1 [51.5 kB] Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 openssh-server amd64 1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1 [377 kB] Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 openssh-client amd64 1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1 [672 kB] Fetched 1101 kB in 0s (2445 kB/s) Preconfiguring packages ... (Reading database ... 55167 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to unpack .../openssh-sftp-server_1%3a8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1_amd64.deb ... Unpacking openssh-sftp-server (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) over (1:8.2p1-4) ... Preparing to unpack .../openssh-server_1%3a8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1_amd64.deb ... Unpacking openssh-server (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) over (1:8.2p1-4) ... Preparing to unpack .../openssh-client_1%3a8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1_amd64.deb ... Unpacking openssh-client (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) over (1:8.2p1-4) ... Setting up openssh-client (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) ... Setting up openssh-sftp-server (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) ... Setting up openssh-server (1:8.2p1-4ubuntu0.1) ... rescue-ssh.target is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it. Processing triggers for systemd (245.4-4ubuntu3.1) ... Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ... Processing triggers for ufw (0.36-6) ... Correctly picks up just the right port now root@f:~# systemctl status ssh ● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled) Active: active (running) since Wed 2020-06-17 11:37:33 UTC; 25s ago Docs: man:sshd(8) man:sshd_config(5) Main PID: 65295 (sshd) Tasks: 1 (limit: 38269) Memory: 1.6M CGroup: /system.slice/ssh.service └─65295 sshd: /usr/sbin/sshd -D [listener] 0 of 10-100 startups Jun 17 11:37:33 f systemd[1]: Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server... Jun 17 11:37:33 f sshd[65295]: Server listening on 0.0.0.0 port 7722. Jun 17 11:37:33 f sshd[65295]: Server listening on :: port 7722. Jun 17 11:37:33 f systemd[1]: Started OpenBSD Secure Shell server. Nothing on an unconfigured port left: root@f:~# ss -tl | grep -e '22 ' LISTEN 0 128 0.0.0.0:7722 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 0 128 [::]:7722 [::]:*