Using an SSH client allows users to execute shell commands on a remote computer. Windows has an SSH client built-in, but it is not enabled by default.
Unlike other forms of communication, SSH uses public keys to establish connection between computers. This key is stored securely on the server and kept secret.
1. OpenSSH
A key part of the SSH protocol is the server component that listens for incoming connection requests. It then responds to the client with its own software and protocol version information, indicating which cipher algorithm it prefers to use for encrypting the session.
The client sends its public key to the server in a file called authorized_keys (on Unix, Linux, or Mac OS), or to /.ssh/authorized_keys on Windows 10 or 11. The client also gives a password to the server.
Some commands offer options for setting up forwarding, such as local forwarding, which tunnels a local port on the client computer to a remote IP address and port, or remote forwarding, which tunnels a port on the client machine to a host on another network. Using these methods can help make a connection to a remote computer or server much faster than with traditional plain text connections. A few other SSH features worth mentioning are compression, and the ability to use multiplexing, which re-uses the same TCP connection for several sessions.
2. PuTTy
PuTTY is a popular SSH client for Windows and other operating systems. It has a wide range of features, including keyboard formatting, alert sound, cursor formatting and resizing the terminal window. It also lets users save sessions that can be loaded later. The program can connect to a server using SSH or other protocols, and it supports public key authentication (though there is no integrated file transfer).
PuTTy is especially useful for those who need to access accounts on the central ITS Unix system from their home computers. It can also be used to connect to devices like serial ports and raw sockets, which are sometimes useful for kernel development and working with legacy hardware. PuTTy is free software and can be downloaded from the PuTTY website. It can also be installed on Linux systems with the help of a package manager such as yum or apt.
3. SSH Terminal
ssh is an open-source program that allows a user to connect to a computer or server using encrypted connections. It is compatible with a variety of operating systems and is very versatile in its use.
When ssh first connects to a server, it verifies the public key and then establishes a connection with that host. The two machines then negotiate a session key to ensure that only the correct server is connecting.
Once a connection is established, the client and server can perform various tasks such as transferring files or using remote applications. The client can also use a tunneling feature to encrypt otherwise unencrypted traffic.
To use ssh, launch Terminal in your Mac and enter the following command:
4. SSH Client for Windows
An SSH client for Windows enables you to communicate with a remote server or device securely. This is done by encrypting all data that travels between your computer and the server, eliminating eavesdropping and preventing connection hijacking.
Before you connect to a server using an SSH client, you must configure the session by specifying the hostname or IP address of the server, your username, and authentication method (password or SSH key). Some SSH clients allow you to save these configurations for future use, making connecting to servers faster.
Microsoft includes an SSH client in its latest versions of Windows, but it is not installed by default. To install it, open the Settings app and search for “Manage optional features”. Then, select the option to add the feature. This will install the SSH client for Windows on your system. Then you can access your remote server or device with ease!