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- If you use SSH on your Mac, try this shortcut.
- The SSH connection manager is built into the Terminal app.
- This tool is simple to use and free.
I use Secure Shell (SSH) every day because it is one of the most secure ways to connect to remote machines. It doesn’t matter whether I’m accessing a machine within my LAN or a system beyond my home network; SSH is the tool I use.
ssh is simple. You can connect to the server or desktop with the command:
ssh username@server
Where USERNAME is the remote user and SERVER is the IP address or domain of the remote server.
You can also add SSH configuration entries like this:
The SSH config file looks like this.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
The two entries above specify the keywords “hive” and “invokeplane” on the remote IP address. With the global configuration option at the top, all connections set the username to jack. With the configuration file set up, I can use ssh as:\
ssh hive
The above will automatically apply the username jack to the command, and the IP address will be set to 192.168.1.176.
As I said before, it’s very simple.
However, maybe you don’t like the command line interface (CLI) very much, and you would prefer to use the GUI for everything. Some people find the CLI too complex for them to use, while others simply don’t want to type that much. Or maybe you don’t want to remember all those remote usernames and IP addresses.
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Luckily, the MacOS Terminal app includes an SSH configuration manager that’s free and easy to use.
Once you start working with Terminal SSH Configuration Manager, you’ll wonder how you managed it before.
Let me show you how to use this feature.
Opening ssh connection manager
SSH Manager is baked into the MacOS Terminal app by default. Here’s how to open it.
It is important that you use the official, built-in MacOS Terminal app, as other CLI tools may not have this feature. Open macOS Launchpad, search for “Terminal” and click on it when the entry appears.
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Once the Terminal app is open, click Shell > “New Remote Connection”, which will bring up a small window.
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When the New Server window opens, make sure to select Secure Shell (SSH) as the service.
Next, click + under the Servers section to reveal the Connection Manager.
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It’s simple SSH GUI makes it very easy to connect to remote machines.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
When the New Server pop-up appears, type the address as USERNAME@SERVER (where USERNAME is your remote username and SERVER is the IP address or domain of the hosting server.
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If you don’t include a username, you can add it when you connect.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
After configuring the connection, click OK.
Also: 4 Key Security Steps You’re Probably Forgetting
Using Connection Manager
To use the connection manager, open the MacOS Terminal app and double-click the address you want to connect to. Another instance of macOS Terminal will open, asking you for the remote user password. Type in that password, and you’ll be ready to go.
You can add as many SSH logins as you want. If you do not configure a username in the initial configuration of a connection, you can always add a username in the GUI. This is a great way to work with the SSH connection manager when you have multiple connections to deal with, each of which has a different username that you need to use.
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You can choose which SSL protocol to use between SSH Automatic, SSH 1, and SSH2 from the SSL drop-down on the right.
Create as many SSH entries as you need, so all you have to do is open the MacOS Terminal, double-click the required connection, and type in your password.
This is a simple way to use SSH on MacOS.
