SSH client

An SSH client is a program that allows on to use SSH.

Overview of SSH clients

Operating system	SSH Client	Recommended?	Allows graphics? [1]	Description
Linux	ssh	Yes	Yes	Start from a terminal
MacOS	ssh	Yes	Yes [2]	Start from a terminal, needs install for graphics [2]
Windows	MobaXterm	Yes	Yes	Easiest for Windows users [5]
Windows	PuTTY	Neutral	Yes [3]	Needs install for graphics [3]
Windows	ssh	Neutral	Unknown	Start from CMD, later Windows versions [4]
Windows	ssh	Neutral	Unknown	Start from PowerShell [4]

• [1] The technical question is 'Allows X forwarding', as this is the way graphical displays are allowed
• [2] After installing XQuartz
• [3] After installing Xming
• [4] Untested
• [5] MobaXterm has a built-in X server

Using ssh with different terminals that do not allow for graphics

MacWindows

• Start terminal (e.g. from Launchpad) or iTerm2 to run ssh

ssh [username]@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

• where [username] is your UPPMAX username, for example ssh sven@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

• iTerm2 goodies:

  • You can save hosts for later.
  • Drag and drop scp

• Start a terminal (see below) to run ssh:

$ ssh [username]@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

• where [username] is your UPPMAX username, for example ssh sven@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

• The ssh (secure shell) client putty

  • You can save hosts for later.
  • No graphics.

• Windows Powershell terminal can also work

  • Cannot save hosts
  • no graphics
  • PowerShell

• Windows command prompt can also work

  • Cannot save hosts
  • no graphics
  • Command Prompt

• Git bash

Using ssh with different terminals that allow for graphics

MacWindows

• Download XQuartz or other X11 server for Mac OS from https://www.xquartz.org/

How do I know XQuartz has been installed?

As far as we know: you cannot check this directly: you will have to find out by running an application of Rackham that uses this. See below :-)

• Start terminal (e.g. from Launchpad) or iTerm2 to run ssh:

$ ssh -X [username]@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

where [username] is your UPPMAX username and -X enables X forwarding. For example, if your UPPMAX username is sven, this would be ssh -X sven@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

How do I know XQuartz has been installed?

See SSH X forwarding.

Spoiler: use xeyes

• Download and install ONE of the X-servers below (to enable graphics)

  • GWSL (recommended because of hardware integration)
  • X-ming
  • VCXSRV

• or...

• Install a ssh (secure shell) program with built-in X11 and sftp file manager

  • MobaXterm
  • sftp frame makes it easy to move, upload and download files.
  • ... though downloading from remote host to local is usually easier.
  • tabs for several sessions

• Start local terminal and an SSH session by:

$ ssh -X [username]@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

where [username] is your UPPMAX username and -X enables X forwarding. For example, if your UPPMAX username is sven, this would be ssh -X sven@rackham.uppmax.uu.se

• Or even better, create and save a SSH session, as shown in image below.
  • This allows you to use MobaXterm as a file manager and to use the built-in graphical texteditor.
  • You can rename the session in the Bookmark settings tab.