The SSH Tricks I've Seen (No Longer Maintained)

This article is no longer maintained; see the OpenSSH series instead

Times have changed — knowing only passwordless ssh login is no longer enough to get by at a company. So I explored some advanced ssh skills in my spare time, and share them here.

ssh kung fu

https://blog.tjll.net/ssh-kung-fu/

This blog covers black magic like sshfs and sharing connections. It also mentions jump usage, though only briefly; the links below cover it in detail.

SSH Jump Host

• https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/SSH_jump_host
• https://ma.ttias.be/use-jumphost-ssh-client-configurations/

Little Trick

Each of these tricks alone may feel a bit weak. But combined, they enable quite powerful capabilities.

For example:

1. sshfs can completely replace scp
2. sharing connections has an expiry time, but combined with sshfs the usable time can basically be extended indefinitely
3. With a jump host present, ssh jump can also reuse sharing connections
4. Not just interactions between your own computer and servers — server-to-server interactions can use sshfs and these features too
5. Even crazier: if we keep a git repository on some server, since git can transfer over ssh, combined with sharing connections you can push and pull effortlessly …

The power of open ssh is truly eye-opening. Whoever reads this blog and feels inspired — I sincerely hope you make good use of these tools; your work efficiency really will multiply.