If you want to allow ssh connections to your machine, you'll need to start the sshd server. To start the sshd server, you would typically use the rc-script that came with the openssh package, typing something like:

# /etc/init.d/sshd start

or

# /etc/rc.d/init.d/sshd start

If necessary, you can adjust configuration options for sshd by modifying the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file. For more information on the various options available, type man sshd.