Unable to connect via CLI

[btc123]

Can somebody please explain this to me like I'm 12?

I want to automate various online transactions but I always get:
$ ./bitcoind getbalance
error: couldn't connect to server

$ cat bitcoin.conf
rpcpassword=**********             # Is this my wallet password?
rpcallowip=192.168.1.2
rpcssl=1
rpcsslciphers=DEFAULT:@STRENGTH

[TheHarbinger]

server=1   

[btc123]

Thanks but it still doesn't work.

[Stephen Gornick]

rpcuser=
rpcpassword=

you can use whatever value you want, just that the remote needs to use the same value as exists in the bitcoin.conf