Trzsz-ssh ( tssh ) Document

trzsz-ssh ( tssh ) is an ssh client designed as a drop-in replacement for the openssh client. It aims to provide complete compatibility with openssh, mirroring all its features, while also offering additional useful features not found in the openssh client.

Why to do

• Can’t remember all server aliases, tssh login prompt supports searching and selecting servers to log in.

• tssh has built-in support for trzsz ( trz / tsz ), no need to open a new session to transfer files.

• tssh supports multiple selection and batch login, and supports executing the preset remote command.

• tssh supports remember password, supports automated interaction, improving your login efficiency.

• Use tssh instead of trzsz ssh on Windows, which solves the issue of slow upload speed of trz.

Installation

Here is how to install trzsz-ssh (tssh) on the client side (choose one):

• Install with scoop / winget / choco on Windows

  scoop install tssh / winget install tssh / choco install tssh

  scoop install tssh
  

  winget install tssh
  

  choco install tssh
  

• Install with homebrew on MacOS

  brew install trzsz-ssh

  brew update
  brew install trzsz-ssh
  

• Install with apt on Ubuntu

  sudo apt install tssh

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install software-properties-common
  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:trzsz/ppa && sudo apt update
  
  sudo apt install tssh
  

• Install with apt on Debian

  sudo apt install tssh

  sudo apt install curl gpg
  curl -s 'https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x7074ce75da7cc691c1ae1a7c7e51d1ad956055ca' \
    | gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/trzsz.gpg
  echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/trzsz.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/trzsz/ppa/ubuntu jammy main' \
    | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/trzsz.list
  sudo apt update
  
  sudo apt install tssh
  

• Install with yum on Linux

  sudo yum install tssh

  • Install with gemfury repository.

    echo '[trzsz]
    name=Trzsz Repo
    baseurl=https://yum.fury.io/trzsz/
    enabled=1
    gpgcheck=0' | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/trzsz.repo
    
    sudo yum install tssh
    

  • Install with wlnmp repository. It’s not necessary to configure the epel repository for tssh.

    curl -fsSL "https://sh.wlnmp.com/wlnmp.sh" | bash
    
    sudo yum install tssh
    

• Install with yay on ArchLinux

  yay -S tssh

  yay -Syu
  yay -S tssh
  

• Install with Go ( Requires go 1.20 or later )

  go install github.com/trzsz/trzsz-ssh/cmd/tssh@latest

  go install github.com/trzsz/trzsz-ssh/cmd/tssh@latest
  

  The binaries are usually located in ~/go/bin/ ( C:\Users\your_name\go\bin\ on Windows ).

• Build from source ( Requires go 1.20 or later )

  sudo make install

  git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/trzsz/trzsz-ssh.git
  cd trzsz-ssh
  make
  sudo make install
  

• Download from the GitHub Releases, unzip and add to PATH environment.

Login Prompt

• Before use, you need to configure ~/.ssh/config (for Windows, it is C:\Users\xxx\.ssh\config, replace xxx with your username).

• For how to configure ~/.ssh/config, please refer to the documentation of openssh ( Match section is not supported yet ).

• Running tssh without arguments will open the login prompt. If there are arguments except destination will also open the login prompt.

• If the destination is part of the aliases in ~/.ssh/config, and can’t completely match an alias, the login prompt will also be opened.

• The aliases with * or ? wildcard will not be displayed in the login prompt. To hide the alias, you can add a * prefix or suffix.

• tssh supports shortcuts, supports search, and supports multi-selection when used in tmux, iTerm2, and Windows Terminal, etc.

  Action	Global shortcuts	Non search shortcuts	Shortcuts description
  Confirm	Enter		Confirm and login
  Quit/Exit	Ctrl+C Ctrl+Q	q Q	Cancel and quit
  Move Prev	Ctrl+K Shift+Tab ↑	k K	Move cursor up
  Move Next	Ctrl+J Tab ↓	j J	Move cursor down
  Page Up	Ctrl+H Ctrl+U Ctrl+B PageUp ←	h H u U b B	Page up
  Page Down	Ctrl+L Ctrl+D Ctrl+F PageDown →	l L d D f F	Page down
  Goto Home	Home	g	Go to the first item
  Goto End	End	G	Go to the last item
  EraseKeys	Ctrl+E	e E	Erase search keywords
  TglSearch	/		Toggle search function
  Tgl Help	?		Toggle help information
  TglSelect	Ctrl+X Ctrl+Space Alt+Space	Space x X	Toggle selection
  SelectAll	Ctrl+A	a A	Select all current items
  SelectOpp	Ctrl+O	o O	Select the opposite items
  Open Wins	Ctrl+W	w W	Batch login in new windows
  Open Tabs	Ctrl+T	t T	Batch login in new tabs
  Open Pane	Ctrl+P	p P	Batch login in new panes

Custom Theme

• tssh supports a few themes. Choose one by setting PromptThemeLayout in ~/.tssh.conf. Welcome to create more and better themes together.

• Each theme supports custom colors. Just configure the PromptThemeColors in ~/.tssh.conf to override the default colors as you prefer.

• Please ❤️vote❤️ for your favorite theme. The theme with the highest number of votes will be set as the default theme in the next version.

tiny theme

• Configure PromptThemeLayout = tiny in ~/.tssh.conf to choose tiny theme.

• Configure PromptThemeColors in ~/.tssh.conf and configure it in one line. tiny theme supports the following color items:

  tiny theme colors and default values:

  {
    "help_tips": "faint",
    "shortcuts": "faint",
    "label_icon": "blue",
    "label_text": "default",
    "cursor_icon": "green|bold",
    "active_selected": "green|bold",
    "active_alias": "cyan|bold",
    "active_host": "magenta|bold",
    "active_group": "blue|bold",
    "inactive_selected": "green|bold",
    "inactive_alias": "cyan",
    "inactive_host": "magenta",
    "inactive_group": "blue",
    "details_title": "default",
    "details_name": "faint",
    "details_value": "default"
  }
  

  tiny theme color enumerations which can be concatenated with `|`:

  default
  black
  red
  green
  yellow
  blue
  magenta
  cyan
  white
  bgBlack
  bgRed
  bgGreen
  bgYellow
  bgBlue
  bgMagenta
  bgCyan
  bgWhite
  bold
  faint
  italic
  underline
  

simple theme

• Configure PromptThemeLayout = simple in ~/.tssh.conf to choose simple theme.

• The custom colors and default values of simple theme are exactly the same as the tiny theme.

table theme

• Configure PromptThemeLayout = table in ~/.tssh.conf to choose table theme.

• Configure PromptThemeColors in ~/.tssh.conf and configure it in one line. table theme supports the following color items:

  table theme colors and default values:

  {
    "help_tips": "faint",
    "shortcuts": "faint",
    "table_header": "10",
    "default_alias": "6",
    "default_host": "5",
    "default_group": "4",
    "selected_icon": "2",
    "selected_alias": "14",
    "selected_host": "13",
    "selected_group": "12",
    "default_border": "8",
    "selected_border": "10",
    "details_name": "4",
    "details_value": "3",
    "details_border": "8"
  }
  

• For supported color enumerations, please refer to lipgloss, except help_tips and shortcuts are the same as the tiny theme.

Support trzsz

• trzsz needs to be installed on the server to use trz / tsz for uploading and downloading files. Choose either the Go version ( ⭐ Recommended ), Py version, or Js version.

• In the ~/.ssh/config or ExConfigPath configuration file, configure EnableDragFile to Yes to enable the drag and drop to upload feature.

  Host *
    # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
    EnableDragFile Yes
  

• If you want to temporarily enable the drag and drop to upload feature, use tssh --dragfile to log in.

• In the ~/.ssh/config or ExConfigPath configuration file, configure EnableTrzsz to No to disable the trzsz and zmodem feature.

  Host no_trzsz_nor_zmodem
    # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
    EnableTrzsz No
  

Support zmodem

• In the ~/.ssh/config or ExConfigPath configuration file, configure EnableZmodem to Yes to enable the zmodem ( rz / sz ) feature.

  Host *
    # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
    EnableZmodem Yes
  

• Not only the server, but also the local computer needs to install lrzsz. For Windows, you can download from lrzsz-win32, unzip and add to PATH environment, or install it as follows:

  scoop install lrzsz
  

  choco install lrzsz
  

• If you want to temporarily enable the zmodem ( rz / sz ) feature, use tssh --zmodem to log in.

• About the progress, the transferred and speed are not precise. It just indicating that the transfer is in progress.

Batch Login

• tssh supports selecting multiple servers in iTerm2( Requires Python API, no need to Allow all apps to connect ),tmux and Windows Terminal, logging in to them in batches, and executing pre-specified commands in batches.

• Press Space, x or Ctrl+X to toggle select the current host. If it cann’t be selected, it means that the current terminal is not supported yet. Please run tmux first.

• Press a or Ctrl+A to select all the hosts on the current page, o or Ctrl+O to select the opposite hosts on the current page, d or l move to next page.

• Press p or Ctrl+P will split panes for batch login, w or Ctrl+W will open new windows for batch login, t or Ctrl+T will open new tabs for batch login.

• Execute the tssh command without arguments, you can log in to servers in batches. And you can specify the commands to be executed in batches by -o RemoteCommand. And you can switch to an interactive shell after executing the specified command. Windows Terminal does not support semicolon ;, you can use |cat&& instead. For example:

  tssh -t -o RemoteCommand='ping -c3 trzsz.github.io ; bash -l'
  tssh -t -o RemoteCommand="ping -c3 trzsz.github.io |cat&& bash -l"
  

Group Labels

• If there are a lot of servers, GroupLabels can be used to quickly find the target server when searching by /.

• After press / and search for a group label, press Enter to lock it. You can search for another group label by pressing / again, and press Enter to lock it too.

• In non-search mode, press E to erase the current search group labels. In search mode, press Ctrl + E to have the same effect.

• Supports configuring multiple group labels separated by spaces in one GroupLabels. Supports configuring multiple GroupLabels.

• Supports configuring group labels on multiple Host nodes in the form of wildcard *, and tssh will summarize all the group labels.

  # The following testAA has group labels group1 group2 label3 label4 group5. Add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
  Host test*
      #!! GroupLabels group1 group2
      #!! GroupLabels label3
  Host testAA
      #!! GroupLabels label4 group5
  

Automated Interaction

• Supports automated interaction feature similar to expect. After logging into the server, it automatically matches the server’s output and then enters input accordingly.

  Host auto
      #!! ExpectCount 2  # Configures the number of automated interactions, default is 0 which means no automated interaction
      #!! ExpectTimeout 30  # Configures the timeout for automated interaction (in seconds), default is 30 seconds
      #!! ExpectPattern1 *assword  # Configures the first automated interaction match expression
      # Configures the first automated input (encrypted). It was encoded by `tssh --enc-secret`, `tssh` will send \r (enter) automatically
      #!! ExpectSendPass1 d7983b4a8ac204bd073ed04741913befd4fbf813ad405d7404cb7d779536f8b87e71106d7780b2
      #!! ExpectPattern2 hostname*$  # Configures the second automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendText2 echo tssh expect\r  # Configures the second automated input (plaintext), specify \r to send enter
      # Choose either ExpectSendPass? or ExpectSendText? for each interaction; if both are configured, ExpectSendPass? has higher priority
  

• Before each ExpectPattern? match, one or multiple optional matches can be configured as follows:

  Host case
      #!! ExpectCount 1  # Configures the number of automated interactions, default is 0 which means no automated interaction
      #!! ExpectPattern1 hostname*$  # Configures the first automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendText1 ssh xxx\r  # Configures the first automated input, can also use ExpectSendPass1 then configure with encrypted text
      #!! ExpectCaseSendText1 yes/no y\r  # Before matching ExpectPattern1, if encountering yes/no, then send y and enter
      #!! ExpectCaseSendText1 y/n yes\r   # Before matching ExpectPattern1, if encountering y/n, then send yes and enter
      #!! ExpectCaseSendPass1 token d7... # Before matching ExpectPattern1, if encountering token, then decode d7... and send
  

• When the server’s output is matched, generate the totp 2FA code, and send it:

  Host totp
      #!! ExpectCount 2  # Configures the number of automated interactions, default is 0 which means no automated interaction
      #!! ExpectPattern1 token:  # Configures the first automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendTotp1 xxxxx  # Configure the secret (plain text) of totp, generally obtained by scanning the QR code
      #!! ExpectPattern2 token:  # Configures the second automated interaction match expression
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding the secret of totp with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      #!! ExpectSendEncTotp2 821fe830270201c36cd1a869876a24453014ac2f1d2d3b056f3601ce9cc9a87023
  

• When the server’s output is matched, execute the specified command to obtain the one-time password, and send it:

  Host otp
      #!! ExpectCount 2  # Configures the number of automated interactions, default is 0 which means no automated interaction
      #!! ExpectPattern1 token:  # Configures the first automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendOtp1 oathtool --totp -b xxxxx  # Configure the command line to obtain the one-time password
      #!! ExpectPattern2 token:  # Configures the second automated interaction match expression
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `oathtool --totp -b xxxxx` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      #!! ExpectSendEncOtp2 77b4ce85d087b39909e563efb165659b22b9ea700a537f1258bdf56ce6fdd6ea70bc7591ea5c01918537a65433133bc0bd5ed3e4
  

• Some servers may not support sending data continuously. For example, sending 1\r requires a slight delay after 1 before sending \r. You can use \| to separate them.

  Host sleep
      #!! ExpectCount 2  # Configures the number of automated interactions, default is 0 which means no automated interaction
      #!! ExpectSleepMS 100  # Number of milliseconds to sleep between separate inputs, default is 100ms
      #!! ExpectPattern1 x>  # Configures the first automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendText1 1\|\r  # Configures the first automated input, send 1, sleep 100ms, send \r.
      #!! ExpectPattern2 y>  # Configures the second automated interaction match expression
      #!! ExpectSendText2 \|1\|\|\r  # Configures the second automated input, sleep 100ms, send 1, sleep 200ms, send \r.
  

• Some servers may not support sending password continuously. Then you need to configure ExpectPassSleep, which is no by default, and can be configured as each or enter:

  • Configuring ExpectPassSleep each will sleep for a short period of time for each character send, the default is 100 milliseconds, and you can configure ExpectSleepMS to adjust it.
  • Configuring ExpectPassSleep enter will only sleep for a short period of time before \r send, the default is 100 milliseconds, and you can configure ExpectSleepMS to adjust it.

• If you don’t know how to configure ExpectPattern2, you can first configure ExpectCount to 2, then use tssh --debug to log in, you will see the output captured by expect, and you can directly copy the last part of the output to configure ExpectPattern2. Replacing 2 with any other number will also work.

Remember Password

• It is recommended to use public key authentication to log in. Please refer to openssh documentation.

• If you can only log in with a password, it is recommended to at least set the permissions of the configuration file:

  chmod 700 ~/.ssh && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/password ~/.ssh/config
  

• The passwords configured below for test1 and test2 are 123456, and the passwords for other aliases starting with test are 111111:

  # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, you can add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
  Host test1
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `123456` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      #!! encPassword 756b17766f45bdc44c37f811db9990b0880318d5f00f6531b15e068ef1fde2666550
  
  # If configured in ~/.ssh/password, there is no need to consider whether it's compatible with openssh.
  Host test2
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `123456` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      encPassword 051a2f0fdc7d0d40794b845967df4c2d05b5eb0f25339021dc4e02a9d7620070654b
  
  # ~/.ssh/config and ~/.ssh/password support wildcards, and tssh will use the first matched value.
  # Here we want test2 to use a different password from other test*, so we put test* behind test2.
  
  Host test*
      Password 111111  # supports plain text, but it is recommended to encrypt with `tssh --enc-secret`.
  

• • If ControlMaster multiplexing is enabled or using Warp terminal, you will need to use the Automated Interaction mentioned earlier to achieve remembering password. Please refer to the earlier Automated Interaction section, simply add a Ctrl prefix as follows:

  Host ctrl
      #!! CtrlExpectCount 1  # Configure the number of automated interactions, typically only requires entering the password once
      #!! CtrlExpectPattern1 *assword    # Configure the matching expression for the password prompt
      #!! CtrlExpectSendPass1 d7983b...  # Configure the password encoded by `tssh --enc-secret`
  

• Support remember Passphrase for private keys ( It’s recommended to use ssh-agent ). Support configuring Passphrase together with IdentityFile. Support configuring Passphrase using private key filename instead of host alias. For example:

  # Configuring Passphrase together with IdentityFile. Add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
  Host test1
      IdentityFile /path/to/id_rsa
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `123456` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      #!! encPassphrase 6f419911555b0cdc84549ae791ef69f654118d734bb4351de7e83163726ef46d176a
  
  # Configure the Passphrase corresponding to the private key ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 in ~/.ssh/config
  # The wildcard * can be added to prevent the filename from appearing in the tssh server list.
  Host id_ed25519*
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `111111` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      #!! encPassphrase 3a929328f2ab1be0ba3fccf29e8125f8e2dac6dab73c946605cf0bb8060b05f02a68
  
  # If configured in ~/.ssh/password, the wildcard * is not required and will not appear in the server list.
  Host id_rsa
      Passphrase 111111  # supports plain text, but it is recommended to encrypt with `tssh --enc-secret`.
  

• Still ask for password after Remember Password? Maybe it’s keyboard interactive authentication, please refer to Remember Answers below.

Remember Answers

• In addition, there is a keyboard interactive authentication. The server returns some questions, and log in by providing the correct answers. Many custom one-time passwords are implemented by it.

• For those with one question and a fixed answer, just configure QuestionAnswer1. For those with multiple questions, the answer to each question can be configured by serial number, or by the hex code of the question.

• Login with tssh --debug, the hex code of the questions will be output, so that you will know how to configure with the hex code. For example:

  # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
  Host test1
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `TheAnswer1` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      encQuestionAnswer1 4f6b79d0e4e48fc56ee29c61bd19559a322cd07f7d27f2a7f33978671be1b522d549252b22ee
  Host test2
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `TheAnswer1` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      encQuestionAnswer1 09d6936c104f7bbd62e3b4dc43d746496a368776b85d37b1ce8cecc2ace1b920af0ca5a1812b
      QuestionAnswer2 TheAnswer2  # supports plain text, but it is recommended to encrypt with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      QuestionAnswer3 TheAnswer3
  Host test3
      # The `6e616d653a20` is the hex code of `name: `, the `enc` prefix indicates that it's ciphertext.
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `my_name` with `tssh --enc-secret`.
      enc6e616d653a20 775f2523ab747384e1661aba7779011cb754b73f2e947672c7fd109607b801d70902d1
      636f64653a20 my_code  # The `636f64653a20` is the hex code of `code: `, `my_code` is plain answer.
  

• For totp 2FA code, you can configure them as follows (configure by serial number or hex code of the question):

  Host totp
      TotpSecret1 xxxxx  # Configure the secret (plain text) of totp by serial number
      totp636f64653a20 xxxxx  # Configure the secret of totp by the hex code of the question `code: ` that is `636f64653a20`
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding the secret of totp with `tssh --enc-secret`. Add the `enc` prefix for configuration.
      encTotpSecret2 8ba828bd54ff694bc8c4619f802b5bed73232e60a680bbac05ba5626269a81a00b
      enctotp636f64653a20 8ba828bd54ff694bc8c4619f802b5bed73232e60a680bbac05ba5626269a81a00b
  

• For one-time password that can be obtained by the command line, you can configure them as follows (configure by serial number or hex code of the question):

  Host otp
      OtpCommand1 oathtool --totp -b xxxxx  # Configure the command line to obtain the one-time password by serial number
      otp636f64653a20 oathtool --totp -b xxxxx  # Configure the command line by the hex code of the question `code: ` that is `636f64653a20`
      # The following ciphertext was generated by encoding `oathtool --totp -b xxxxx` with `tssh --enc-secret`. Add the `enc` prefix for configuration.
      encOtpCommand2 77b4ce85d087b39909e563efb165659b22b9ea700a537f1258bdf56ce6fdd6ea70bc7591ea5c01918537a65433133bc0bd5ed3e4
      encotp636f64653a20 77b4ce85d087b39909e563efb165659b22b9ea700a537f1258bdf56ce6fdd6ea70bc7591ea5c01918537a65433133bc0bd5ed3e4
  

• If ControlMaster multiplexing is enabled or using Warp terminal, you will need to use the Automated Interaction mentioned earlier to achieve remembering answers.

  Host ctrl_totp
      #!! CtrlExpectCount 1  # Configure the number of automated interactions
      #!! CtrlExpectPattern1 code:  # Configure the matching expression for the password prompt (totp 2FA)
      #!! CtrlExpectSendTotp1 xxxxx  # Configure the secret (plain text) of totp, generally obtained by scanning the QR code
      #!! CtrlExpectSendEncTotp1 622ada31cf...  # Or configure the encrypted secret of totp encoded using `tssh --enc-secret`
  
  Host ctrl_otp
      #!! CtrlExpectCount 1  # Configure the number of automated interactions
      #!! CtrlExpectPattern1 token:  # Configure the matching expression for the password prompt (one-time password)
      #!! CtrlExpectSendOtp1 oathtool --totp -b xxxxx  # Configure the command line to obtain the one-time password
      #!! CtrlExpectSendEncOtp1 77b4ce85d0...  # Or configure the encrypted command line encoded using `tssh --enc-secret`
  

Custom Configuration

• The following custom configurations are supported in ~/.tssh.conf (C:\Users\your_name\.tssh.conf on Windows):

  # SSH configuration path, the default is ~/.ssh/config
  ConfigPath = ~/.ssh/config
  
  # Extended configuration path, the default is ~/.ssh/password
  ExConfigPath = ~/.ssh/password
  
  # The default path of the file dialog for trz uploading, the default is empty which opening the last path.
  DefaultUploadPath = ~/Downloads
  
  # The automatically save path for tsz downloading, the default is empty which poping up a folder dialog.
  DefaultDownloadPath = ~/Downloads
  
  # When searching and selecting servers with tssh, the theme and colors.
  PromptThemeLayout = simple
  PromptThemeColors = {"active_host": "magenta|bold", "inactive_host": "magenta"}
  
  # When searching and selecting servers with tssh, the number of records displayed on each page, the default is 10.
  PromptPageSize = 10
  
  # When searching and selecting servers with tssh, default is normal mode similar to vim. Configure to search mode as follows:
  PromptDefaultMode = search
  
  # When searching and selecting servers with tssh, the items displayed in details. The default is as follows:
  PromptDetailItems = Alias Host Port User GroupLabels IdentityFile ProxyCommand ProxyJump RemoteCommand
  
  # When searching and selecting servers with tssh, you can customize the cursor and selected icon:
  PromptCursorIcon = 🧨
  PromptSelectedIcon = 🍺
  
  # Auto set terminal title after login. It will not be reset after exiting. Please set PROMPT_COMMAND in local shell.
  SetTerminalTitle = Yes
  

Comments of Config

• The comments in the tssh configuration are basically the same as openssh, with some additional extended support, see the following table for details:

  Comments	openssh	tssh
  Starting with #	Is a comment	Is a comment
  Starting with #!!	Is a comment	Not a comment
  Key Value # Comment	It depends	Is a comment
  Key=Value # Comment	It depends	Not a comment

• Configuration starting with # are always considered by openssh to be a comment; tssh considers configuration starting with #!! not to be a comment, and other configurations starting with # are comments.

• Key Value # Comment configuration (without = sign), openssh considers the content after # to be a comment in some cases, and considers it not to be a comment in some other cases; tssh always considers the content after # to be a comment.

• Key=Value # Comment configuration (with = sign), openssh considers the content after # to be a comment in some cases, and considers it not to be a comment in some other cases; tssh always considers the content after # not to be a comment.

Other Features

• Use -f to run in the background, you can add --reconnect, it will automatically reconnect when the background process exits.

• Run tssh --enc-secret, enter the password or answer, and you can get the ciphertext for configuration (the encryption result for the same password is different each time):

  • The remember password and remember answer mentioned above can be configured as ciphertext by adding enc prefix to prevent screen snooping.
  • If the password contains special characters such as #, you have to configure it with ciphertext.

  Host server2
    # If configured in ~/.ssh/config, add `#!!` prefix to be compatible with openssh.
    encPassword de88c4dbdc95d85303682734e2397c4d8dd29bfff09ec53580f31dd40291fc8c7755
    encQuestionAnswer1 93956f6e7e9f2aef3af7d6a61f7046dddf14aa4bbd9845dbb836fe3782b62ac0d89f
  

• Run tssh --new-host to easily add SSH configuration in the TUI interface, and you can log in immediately after completion.

• Run tssh --install-trzsz to install trzsz to the server automatically.

  • It is installed to the ~/.local/bin/ directory by default. You can specify the installation directory through --install-path /path/to/install.
  • If the --install-path installation directory contains ~/, single quotes must be added, such as --install-path '~/path'.
  • If obtaining the latest version of trzsz fails, you can specify it through --trzsz-version x.x.x.
  • If downloading the trzsz installation package fails, you can download and specify it through --trzsz-bin-path /path/to/trzsz.tar.gz.
  • Note: --install-trzsz does not support Windows server, and does not support jump server (unless using ProxyJump).

• About changing the terminal title, it can be achieved without tssh. It only needs to be configured in the server’s shell configuration file (such as ~/.bashrc):

  # Set fixed server title
  PROMPT_COMMAND='echo -ne "\033]0;Fixed server title\007"'
  
  # Dynamically changing title based on environment variables
  PROMPT_COMMAND='echo -ne "\033]0;${USER}@${HOSTNAME}: ${PWD}\007"'
  

  • If SetTerminalTitle = Yes is set in ~/.tssh.conf, the terminal title is automatically set after login, but PROMPT_COMMAND on the server overrides the title set by tssh.
  • tssh does not reset to the original title after exiting, you need to set PROMPT_COMMAND in the local shell so that it overrides the title set by tssh.

Trouble shooting

• In the Warp terminal, the features like Blocks requires renaming tssh to ssh. It is recommended to create a soft link (friendly for updates):

  sudo ln -sv $(which tssh) /usr/local/bin/ssh
  

  • After the soft link, ssh -V should output trzsz ssh plus the version number. If not, it means that the soft link is unsuccessful, or openssh has a higher priority in PATH, and you need to soft link to another path or adjust the priority of PATH.

  • After the soft link, you need to use ssh directly, which is equivalent to tssh. If you still use tssh, it will not support the Blocks feature.

  • The --dragfile argument may disable the Warp features, please refer to the previous section to configure EnableDragFile to enable the drag and drop to upload feature.

  • After dragging files and directories into the Warp terminal, the upload may not be triggered immediately. You need to press the Enter key once to make it upload.

• If you are using Windows7 or an older version of Windows10, and getting an error enable virtual terminal failed.

  • Try using tssh in Cygwin, MSYS2 or Git Bash.

• If the tssh specific configuration items are configured in ~/.ssh/config, and openssh report an error Bad configuration option.

  • You can add #!! prefix to the items, openssh will treat it as a comment, while tssh will treat it as one of the valid configurations.

Contact

Feel free to email the author lonnywong@qq.com, or create an issue. Welcome to join the QQ group: 318578930.

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