Linux can be easily administered remotely and securely by connecting to another machine's command line over an SSH connection.
Install
Install an ssh server to connect to:
#Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get install ssh
#Fedora/RPM:
sudo yum install ssh
Usage
Connect to a linux box:
ssh username@127.0.0.1
Add -X if you want to forward graphical programs through the connection. This means you would be able to open a program window like GIMP or gedit from the computer you are connecting to. This can also be used from a Mac to load a linux program remotely, so long as you have X11 installed.
ssh -X username@host.com
If you don't specify a user name, it will assume the user name of your local machine.
ssh host.com
If it takes a few seconds to connect, you can try editing /etc/nsswitch.conf. Find the line that reads:
hosts: files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4
and remove the "mdns4".
Copy files over a secure (ssh) connection:
scp local_file.mp3 username@remote.host.com:/remote/folder
scp username@remote.host.com:/remote/file.txt /local/directory/
#Use -r to get directories recursively:
scp -r
Port Forwarding
You can set your browser to use a proxy server that can tunnel your connection through ssh. This can be used to encrypt between your box and a server at home, as well as get around firewall restrictions on webpages. Ignoring HTTPS, the connection is only encr
#SOCKS proxy server (for whole web connection):
ssh userName@serverIp -D portOnLocalhost
#Other options:
ssh -D portToForwardLocally userName@serverIp -p portToConnectByRemotely
ssh -D 8080 userName@serverIp -p 2222
ssh inPort:userName@serverIp:outPort
Key Management
Generate a key:
ssh-keygen -t rsa
Update the password:
ssh-keygen -p
Add your ssh key to a host:
ssh-copy-id user@remotehost.com
#specify your public key:
ssh-copy-id -i .ssh/id_rsa.pub username:password@remotehost.com
Add your ssh key to your local authentication agent (so your system knows about it):
ssh-add
Additional Information
Remember you can always use the instruction manual for each program by:
man ssh
man ssh-keygen
man ssh-add
man programName
