SSH client software

An SSH client is an application on your computer you use to run Shell commands. These commands allow you to do such things as log into a server, download files, and manage files on your computer or a web server.

There are many different types of SSH clients you can choose, depending on your operating system. This article gives you an overview of some popular choices.

View the following article for more information on different clients:

• Comparison of SSH clients on Wikipedia

You'll need the following information to connect to your server:

• Username
• Password
• Servername or website name

View the following article for details on how to locate this information.

• SSH overview

Mac OS and Linux operating systems already have built-in terminals you can use called 'Terminal'.

The simplest way to open 'Terminal' on OSX is to use the spotlight search. Press COMMAND (?) + SPACEBAR and then type the word terminal. Once selected, the terminal screen opens.

View the SSH overview article for examples of commands you can use to log in with. 

Most distributions of Unix/Linux come with the OpenSSH package. Any terminal application (xterm, Konsole, and so on) can be used to initiate a secure shell.

To open your terminal, type in CTRL + ALT + T. This should automatically open your terminal, where you can start running commands. You could also search for the word 'terminal' in your distribution's dashboard. This varies depending on which distribution of Linux you're using.

View the SSH overview article for examples of commands you can use to log in with.

Windows 10 comes with a built-in Shell. You can use this as an SSH client using Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell. View the following article for details:

• Using the Windows 10 Shell

There are also third-party clients you can use with Windows. Every Windows SSH client has its own way to be installed and launched, but once you've set it up, there is no difference in further operations. However, each client is suited to specific (or general needs). So, you may wish to try more than one to see what works best for you. Here are a few options:

• PuTTY

  This is a free and very popular client for Windows users.

• WinSCP

  This is a free and popular client as well. However, it’s not a fully functioning client compared to PuTTY.

You can locate several terminals in the App Store. Just search for 'ssh terminal'. A popular paid app is Termius. But there are many other options available.

There are several clients you can download from the Google Play store. Two options are ConnectBot and JuiceSSH.