SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol that allows secure remote access to a computer or server. When using SSH on a Mac, it’s important to keep the SSH session alive, especially if you’re working on a task that requires a long-running connection. In this tutorial, we will explore how to keep your SSH session alive on a Mac, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted connection.
Step 1: Open Terminal on your Mac by going to Spotlight (Cmd + Space) and typing "Terminal" or by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
Step 2: Once Terminal is open, you’ll need to identify the SSH configuration file. Enter the following command and press Enter:
"`
nano ~/.ssh/config
"`
This command opens the SSH configuration file in the Nano text editor.
Step 3: Within the Nano editor, enter the following lines to configure the SSH connection keep-alive:
"`
Host *
ServerAliveInterval 60
ServerAliveCountMax 3
"`
This configuration sets the SSH connection to send a null packet (no data) to the server every 60 seconds. The ServerAliveCountMax option specifies that if three consecutive packets fail to receive a response, the connection will be terminated.
Step 4: Once you’ve entered the configuration details, press Ctrl + O to save the changes, and then press Ctrl + X to exit the Nano editor.
Step 5: Now, you can initiate an SSH connection with the keep-alive settings. Use the following command to establish an SSH session:
"`
ssh username@hostname
"`
Replace "username" with your actual username and "hostname" with the remote server’s IP address or domain name.
Step 6: Your SSH connection will now use the keep-alive settings specified in the configuration file. As long as the server responds within the given time frame (60 seconds in this case), your SSH session will remain active.
Step 7: To test if the keep-alive settings are working, initiate an SSH session and leave it idle for a few minutes. If the connection remains alive without being terminated, it means the keep-alive configuration is successful.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Ensures a consistent and uninterrupted SSH connection. | 1. May lead to higher resource consumption if the server is under heavy load. |
| 2. Prevents accidental disconnections due to inactivity. | 2. Some servers may have strict security policies that limit or disable SSH keep-alive functionality. |
| 3. Useful for tasks requiring long-running SSH connections, such as file transfers or remote command execution. | 3. Incorrectly configured keep-alive settings may disrupt the connection or cause unnecessary network traffic. |
By following these steps, you can ensure that your SSH sessions stay alive on your Mac. It’s a valuable technique for maintaining a stable and uninterrupted connection, especially when working on tasks that require prolonged remote access or file transfers.
Video Tutorial:How do I extend SSH timeout on Mac?
How do I keep a terminal session alive on a Mac?
To keep a terminal session alive on a Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Disable the idle timeout: By default, when your Mac is idle for a certain period, it may close the terminal session. To prevent this, disable the idle timeout setting. Open the terminal and go to Terminal Preferences or use the shortcut Command + (comma). Under the Advanced tab, uncheck the box that says "Close windows when quitting an app."
2. Use SSH with the "keep alive" option: If you’re accessing a remote server via SSH, you can use the "keep alive" option to maintain the connection. When initiating the SSH connection, specify the `-o TCPKeepAlive=yes` option to send periodic keep-alive messages to the server, thereby preventing it from terminating the connection due to inactivity. For example: `ssh -o TCPKeepAlive=yes user@hostname`.
3. Configure SSH client timeout: Additionally, you can adjust the configuration of your SSH client to prevent disconnections. Open the SSH client configuration file located at `~/.ssh/config` using a text editor like nano or vim. Add the following lines to set the ClientAliveInterval and ClientAliveCountMax parameters:
"`
Host *
ServerAliveInterval 60
ServerAliveCountMax 5
"`
The `ServerAliveInterval` determines the interval (in seconds) between keep-alive messages, and `ServerAliveCountMax` sets the number of unanswered keep-alive messages before the session is terminated.
4. Use terminal multiplexers: Terminal multiplexers like tmux or screen allow you to create persistent terminal sessions that continue running even if you get disconnected. When you reconnect, you can easily resume your previous session. Install tmux or screen using package managers like Homebrew (`brew install tmux`) or MacPorts, and learn the usage basics by referring to their documentation.
By implementing these steps, you can ensure that your terminal sessions stay alive and prevent them from getting closed due to inactivity or disconnections.
How do I exit SSH without killing process Mac?
To exit SSH without killing a process on a Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find it in the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder or by using Spotlight search (Cmd + Space) and typing "Terminal".
2. Connect to the remote server or device using SSH. To establish an SSH connection, use the following command:
"`shell
ssh username@hostname
"`
Replace `username` with your username on the remote server and `hostname` with the IP address or domain name of the server you want to connect to.
3. Once you are connected to the remote server, you may have started a process or running a command that you want to keep running even after you exit the SSH session.
4. To detach the process from the current SSH session and keep it running in the background, press `Ctrl + Z` on your keyboard. This will pause the process and return control to the SSH session.
5. Next, use the `bg` command to move the process to the background. This will allow it to continue running even after you exit the SSH session. The command syntax is as follows:
"`shell
bg %
"`
Replace `
6. Finally, you can exit the SSH session by typing the `exit` command, and then pressing Enter. This will close the connection to the remote server, but the process you detached will continue running.
By following these steps, you can successfully exit the SSH session without killing the process on your Mac.
How do I keep my SSH session alive forever?
As a tech blogger, I’m here to provide you with a professional point of view on how to keep your SSH session alive indefinitely. Here are the steps you can follow:
1. Open your SSH configuration file: Locate and open the SSH configuration file on your local machine. The file is usually located at `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` or `~/.ssh/config`.
2. Check the configuration: Look for the `ClientAliveInterval` and `ClientAliveCountMax` directives in the file. If these directives are not present, you can add them at the end of the file.
3. Set the interval: Configure the `ClientAliveInterval` directive with a time interval (in seconds) at which the server should send a "keep-alive" message to the client. For example, you can set it to 300, representing 5 minutes.
4. Set the maximum count: Configure the `ClientAliveCountMax` directive with the number of "keep-alive" messages the server should send to the client without receiving any response before terminating the session. For instance, you can set it to 0, indicating an unlimited number of messages.
5. Save and exit the file: Save the changes you made to the SSH configuration file and exit the editor.
6. Restart the SSH service: To apply the new configuration, you need to restart the SSH service. You can do this by executing the appropriate command specific to your operating system. For example, you can use `sudo service ssh restart` on Ubuntu or `sudo systemctl restart sshd` on CentOS.
By following these steps, your SSH session should stay active indefinitely, even if there is no activity. It’s worth mentioning that keeping SSH sessions alive for an extended period can have security implications, so ensure that you evaluate the risks and implement appropriate measures to mitigate them.
How do I quit SSH without killing the process?
To quit SSH without killing the process, you can follow the steps below:
1. Press the "Ctrl" key and then press "Z" to suspend the SSH session. This will bring you back to your local terminal.
2. Type the command "bg" to run the suspended process in the background.
3. Now you can safely close the SSH session without terminating the process. You can either close the terminal window or use the command "exit" to end the session.
By following these steps, you effectively detach the process associated with SSH and allow it to continue running even after you disconnect from the SSH session. This can be particularly useful if you have long-running tasks or processes that you want to keep running even when you’re not actively connected to the remote server.
It’s worth noting that you can later reconnect to the SSH session using tools like "screen" or "tmux" or by running the command "fg" to bring the process back to the foreground. This allows you to regain control of the process if needed.
Remember, properly detaching from an SSH session without terminating the process is crucial to ensure continued operation, especially when working with critical applications or tasks on remote servers.
How do I keep remote session alive?
As a tech blogger, I can provide you with guidance on how to keep a remote session alive. Here are a few steps to ensure you can maintain an active connection during a remote session:
1. Adjust power and sleep settings: On your computer, navigate to the power settings and adjust the sleep or hibernation options. Set them to a longer duration or disable these features altogether to prevent the system from turning off or going into standby mode.
2. Disable screen lock: Configure your device’s settings so that it doesn’t lock the screen after a certain amount of inactivity. This prevents the remote session from being interrupted by a locked screen or requiring a password to unlock.
3. Use remote desktop software: If you are using remote desktop software, such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk, ensure that you have connected with the appropriate settings. Some applications have options to keep the connection active, so explore the settings to find any relevant options.
4. Maintain stable internet connection: A stable and reliable internet connection is crucial for maintaining a remote session. Ensure that you have a strong and uninterrupted connection to prevent any disconnections.
5. Adjust session timeout settings: In some remote session applications, there are timeout settings that determine how long a session remains active without user activity. Review the settings and increase the timeout period to avoid premature session disconnections.
6. Keep your device awake: If you are using a laptop or mobile device, make sure it stays awake throughout the session. You can adjust the power settings or use tools to prevent the device from going into sleep mode.
7. Regularly interact with the session: Interact with the remote session at regular intervals to ensure it stays active. Move the mouse, press keys, or perform any relevant actions to simulate activity and prevent any automatic disconnections.
These steps should help you keep a remote session alive for an extended period. However, please note that specific software or network configurations may have additional settings or requirements that need to be considered.
How do I make SSH active?
To activate SSH (Secure Shell) on your device, follow these steps:
1. Ensure that you have administrative access or root privileges on the device you want to enable SSH on. SSH typically requires administrative rights to configure and activate.
2. Check if your device already has an SSH server installed. Most Linux distributions come with OpenSSH pre-installed, while macOS should also have it built-in. To check, you can run the following command in the terminal:
`$ ssh -v`
If the command shows the SSH client version information, it means SSH is already installed.
3. If SSH is not installed, you need to install an SSH server on your device. The process may vary depending on the operating system you are using. Here are some common methods to install an SSH server:
– Linux-based systems (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS):
– For Debian-based systems, you can use the following command to install OpenSSH server:
"`
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install openssh-server
"`
– For Red Hat-based systems, you can use the following command to install the OpenSSH server package:
"`
$ sudo yum install openssh-server
"`
– macOS:
macOS should have SSH built-in. To activate it, go to "System Preferences" -> "Sharing" and enable "Remote Login."
– Windows:
Windows does not have SSH built-in by default. However, you can use third-party software like OpenSSH for Windows or programs like PuTTY to enable SSH on your Windows machine.
4. Once the SSH server is installed, you may need to configure its settings. The configuration file for the SSH server is usually located at `/etc/ssh/sshd_config`. You can modify this file to customize various SSH options like port number, authentication methods, etc. Make sure to restart the SSH service after making any changes.
5. Finally, you need to start or restart the SSH service on your device. Depending on your operating system, you can use one of the following commands:
– Linux-based systems:
"`
$ sudo service ssh restart # For SysV init systems (e.g., Ubuntu 14.04)
$ sudo systemctl restart ssh # For systemd-based systems (e.g., Ubuntu 16.04+)
"`
– macOS:
"`
$ sudo launchctl stop com.openssh.sshd
$ sudo launchctl start com.openssh.sshd
"`
– Windows (using OpenSSH for Windows):
"`
$ Start-Service sshd
"`
Once the SSH service is running, you should be able to connect to your device via SSH using a client application like Terminal (macOS/Linux) or PuTTY (Windows). Remember to configure proper security measures, such as using secure authentication methods and strong passwords, to protect your SSH connection.