How ShellHub Enables Secure Remote Access to Any Linux Device

As remote work and the need to access devices over the internet grow, securely connecting to remote computing resources becomes increasingly important. ShellHub is an Apache 2.0‑licensed open‑source solution that provides a cloud server allowing regular external network access to devices.

ShellHub lets users connect and manage multiple Linux devices of any hardware architecture through a single account, simplifying remote access for developers and programmers.

The platform encapsulates the SSH protocol within an HTTP transport layer, which works smoothly on most corporate firewalls and network policies.

The examples below use ShellHub version 0.3.2 released on June 10, 2020.

Using ShellHub

To start, visit shellhub.io and register an account. After registration you see a dashboard where you can add your first device.

The interface is intuitive and concise, presenting information and functions quickly.

Adding Devices

To enable device connections, generate an identifier that authenticates the device when it connects to the server.

This identifier must be configured inside the ShellHub client (agent) on the device, either as a standalone binary or within a Docker container.

ShellHub runs the agent by default in Docker, providing a painless way to add devices on existing systems; Docker support is the only requirement. Adding a device involves pasting a command line shown in the ShellHub Cloud dialog.

Devices use their MAC address as the hostname and are identified internally by a key generated during registration for authentication with the server.

Accessing Devices

From the dashboard, click “View All Devices” or the “Devices” menu to list registered devices. Online devices show a green icon; click the terminal icon to connect, enter the password, and press “Connect”.

Alternatively, you can use standard SSH clients such as PuTTY, Termius, or a Linux terminal by employing the ShellHub identifier (e.g., ssh username@SSHID).

Whenever you log into the ShellHub Cloud platform, you can access all registered devices from the dashboard, ensuring you can work from anywhere. The open‑source platform adds simplicity to secure remote communication.

Join the ShellHub community on GitHub, Gitter, or email [email protected] to contribute or provide feedback.