Many developers know how to use ssh to access remote servers and scp to transfer files between servers, but most do not go beyond that. This talk introduces useful features built into SSH as well as tools that can help to improve the user experience for remote networking. Furthermore, this talk will delve into how SSH can also be useful in unexpected situations (e.g. routing traffic via a proxy, run GUI applications remotely).
PUNCH
I had to use SoC compute cluster for some of modules. However, I couldn't access it from outside of NUS, and I didn't want to install a VPN. Thankfully, one can first SSH into Sunfire, then SSH into SoC. But transferring files over were a huge pain.
WIIFY
Better SSH experience: remove the frustration from typing long ssh and scp commands.
Beter SSH experience: You don't have to manually hop between servers.
Discover other useful features of SSH.
Never have a problem managing remote servers.
Promise/Road Map
Start with example on how using basic ssh and scp commands can be problematic and doesn't scale well
Demonstrate how knowing SSH optimisations can solve the problem above
a. Dotfiles
b. SSH tunnelling
c. SSHFS
d. Some other potential optimisations
Demonstrate how knowing alternative uses for SSH can be useful
a. Run remote GUI Applications
b. Network proxies
Share other intangible benefits
a. Refreshes networking knowledge
b. Available on all major OSes
Tips on getting started
Key Points
SSH configurations and tools can be used to improve user's networking experience
Dotfiles can be used for aliasing
SSH tunnelling simplifies navigating networks and reduces repetitiveness
SSHFS makes file transfer easy
There are many other tools that can optimise SSH experience
SSH can be used for alternative purposes
Open remote GUI application
Network proxies
Many more that are not covered
It is useful to learn SSH
SSH is natively available on almost all systems
Working with SSH reinforces networking concepts
Impact
Know: What some of the optimisations and alternative uses for SSH are.
Believe: Optimisations can greatly improve user experience and alternative uses can be very useful.
Do: Start optimising SSH and using for a wide range of purposes
Summary
Many developers know how to use
sshto access remote servers andscpto transfer files between servers, but most do not go beyond that. This talk introduces useful features built into SSH as well as tools that can help to improve the user experience for remote networking. Furthermore, this talk will delve into how SSH can also be useful in unexpected situations (e.g. routing traffic via a proxy, run GUI applications remotely).PUNCH
I had to use SoC compute cluster for some of modules. However, I couldn't access it from outside of NUS, and I didn't want to install a VPN. Thankfully, one can first SSH into Sunfire, then SSH into SoC. But transferring files over were a huge pain.
WIIFY
sshandscpcommands.Promise/Road Map
sshandscpcommands can be problematic and doesn't scale wellKey Points
Impact
Know: What some of the optimisations and alternative uses for SSH are. Believe: Optimisations can greatly improve user experience and alternative uses can be very useful. Do: Start optimising SSH and using for a wide range of purposes
Slides
Lightning Talk: The power of SSH