Using SSH on Android Devices

The Google Play Store for Android devices (largely tablets and phones) offers a massive choice of SSH apps which provide an SSH client and terminal emulator combined, allowing your device to login to Informatics machines. Popular ones include JuiceSSH, Termius and ConnectBot but there are dozens available, many for free.

The Google Play store does not exert a high level of control over the apps available, so it is important to take a little care with your choice of client; apps are of notably variable quality and malicious (credential-stealing and imitation) apps are not unheard of, albeit usually short-lived. As with all app purchases, take care to assess the app's reviews and popularity in the wider web and any permissions it requests. You must ensure that the app you have chosen is kept up-to-date.

Once your app is installed, the app will request connection details, and the External login servers page lists the hostnames you should use when logging in from outside the Informatics network.

Before you can use ssh, you must be using a VPN - either the University VPN or the School's OpenVPN. The VPN page can help.

Normally we recommend the use of GSSAPI (Kerberos) authentication with ssh, but this does not seem to be reliably available on Android. Instead please keep your DICE password secure and take care when entering it each time you login - you must not store your password on your Android device.

For background reading see connecting from outside the University - an overview.