Packages and Binaries:

openssh-client

Secure shell (SSH) client, for secure access to remote machines
This is the portable version of OpenSSH, a free implementation of the Secure Shell protocol as specified by the IETF secsh working group.

Ssh (Secure Shell) is a program for logging into a remote machine and for executing commands on a remote machine. It provides secure encrypted communications between two untrusted hosts over an insecure network. X11 connections and arbitrary TCP/IP ports can also be forwarded over the secure channel. It can be used to provide applications with a secure communication channel.

This package provides the ssh, scp and sftp clients, the ssh-agent and ssh-add programs to make public key authentication more convenient, and the ssh-keyscan, ssh-copy-id and ssh-argv0 utilities.

In some countries it may be illegal to use any encryption at all without a special permit.

Installed size: 3.50 MB
How to install: sudo apt install openssh-client

Dependencies:
  • libc6
  • libedit2
  • libselinux1
  • libssl3t64
  • openssh-common
  • systemd | systemd-standalone-sysusers | systemd-sysusers
  • systemd | systemd-standalone-tmpfiles | systemd-tmpfiles
  • zlib1g
scp

OpenSSH secure file copy

root@kali:~# scp -h
scp: unknown option -- h
usage: scp [-346ABCOpqRrsTv] [-c cipher] [-D sftp_server_path] [-F ssh_config]
           [-i identity_file] [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option]
           [-P port] [-S program] [-X sftp_option] source ... target
scp

OpenSSH secure file copy

root@kali:~# scp -h
scp: unknown option -- h
usage: scp [-346ABCOpqRrsTv] [-c cipher] [-D sftp_server_path] [-F ssh_config]
           [-i identity_file] [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option]
           [-P port] [-S program] [-X sftp_option] source ... target
sftp

OpenSSH secure file transfer

root@kali:~# sftp --help
unknown option -- -
usage: sftp [-46AaCfNpqrv] [-B buffer_size] [-b batchfile] [-c cipher]
          [-D sftp_server_command] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file]
          [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port]
          [-R num_requests] [-S program] [-s subsystem | sftp_server]
          [-X sftp_option] destination
sftp

OpenSSH secure file transfer

root@kali:~# sftp --help
unknown option -- -
usage: sftp [-46AaCfNpqrv] [-B buffer_size] [-b batchfile] [-c cipher]
          [-D sftp_server_command] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file]
          [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port]
          [-R num_requests] [-S program] [-s subsystem | sftp_server]
          [-X sftp_option] destination
ssh

OpenSSH remote login client

root@kali:~# ssh -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh [-46AaCfGgKkMNnqsTtVvXxYy] [-B bind_interface] [-b bind_address]
           [-c cipher_spec] [-D [bind_address:]port] [-E log_file]
           [-e escape_char] [-F configfile] [-I pkcs11] [-i identity_file]
           [-J destination] [-L address] [-l login_name] [-m mac_spec]
           [-O ctl_cmd] [-o option] [-P tag] [-p port] [-R address]
           [-S ctl_path] [-W host:port] [-w local_tun[:remote_tun]]
           destination [command [argument ...]]
       ssh [-Q query_option]
ssh

OpenSSH remote login client

root@kali:~# ssh -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh [-46AaCfGgKkMNnqsTtVvXxYy] [-B bind_interface] [-b bind_address]
           [-c cipher_spec] [-D [bind_address:]port] [-E log_file]
           [-e escape_char] [-F configfile] [-I pkcs11] [-i identity_file]
           [-J destination] [-L address] [-l login_name] [-m mac_spec]
           [-O ctl_cmd] [-o option] [-P tag] [-p port] [-R address]
           [-S ctl_path] [-W host:port] [-w local_tun[:remote_tun]]
           destination [command [argument ...]]
       ssh [-Q query_option]
ssh-add

Adds private key identities to the OpenSSH authentication agent

root@kali:~# ssh-add -h
option requires an argument -- h
usage: ssh-add [-CcDdKkLlqvXx] [-E fingerprint_hash] [-H hostkey_file]
               [-h destination_constraint] [-S provider] [-t life]
               [file ...]
       ssh-add -s pkcs11 [-Cv] [certificate ...]
       ssh-add -e pkcs11
       ssh-add -T pubkey ...
ssh-add

Adds private key identities to the OpenSSH authentication agent

root@kali:~# ssh-add -h
option requires an argument -- h
usage: ssh-add [-CcDdKkLlqvXx] [-E fingerprint_hash] [-H hostkey_file]
               [-h destination_constraint] [-S provider] [-t life]
               [file ...]
       ssh-add -s pkcs11 [-Cv] [certificate ...]
       ssh-add -e pkcs11
       ssh-add -T pubkey ...
ssh-agent

OpenSSH authentication agent

root@kali:~# ssh-agent -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh-agent [-c | -s] [-DdTU] [-a bind_address] [-E fingerprint_hash]
                 [-O option] [-P allowed_providers] [-t life]
       ssh-agent [-TU] [-a bind_address] [-E fingerprint_hash] [-O option]
                 [-P allowed_providers] [-t life] command [arg ...]
       ssh-agent [-c | -s] -k
       ssh-agent -u
       ssh-agent -V
ssh-agent

OpenSSH authentication agent

root@kali:~# ssh-agent -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh-agent [-c | -s] [-DdTU] [-a bind_address] [-E fingerprint_hash]
                 [-O option] [-P allowed_providers] [-t life]
       ssh-agent [-TU] [-a bind_address] [-E fingerprint_hash] [-O option]
                 [-P allowed_providers] [-t life] command [arg ...]
       ssh-agent [-c | -s] -k
       ssh-agent -u
       ssh-agent -V
ssh-argv0

Replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling

root@kali:~# man ssh-argv0
SSH-ARGV0(1)                 General Commands Manual               SSH-ARGV0(1)

NAME
     ssh-argv0 -- replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling

SYNOPSIS
     hostname | user@hostname [-l login_name] [command]

     hostname | user@hostname [-afgknqstvxACNTX1246] [-b bind_address]
     [-c cipher_spec] [-e escape_char] [-i identity_file] [-l login_name]
     [-m mac_spec] [-o option] [-p port] [-F configfile] [-L
     port:host:hostport] [-R port:host:hostport] [-D port] [command]

DESCRIPTION
     ssh-argv0  replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling.  If you
     link to this script with a hostname then executing the link is  equivalent
     to having executed ssh with that hostname as an argument.  All other argu-
     ments are passed to ssh and will be processed normally.

OPTIONS
     See ssh(1).

FILES
     See ssh(1).

AUTHORS
     OpenSSH  is  a  derivative  of the original and free ssh 1.2.12 release by
     Tatu Ylonen.  Aaron Campbell, Bob Beck, Markus Friedl, Niels Provos,  Theo
     de  Raadt and Dug Song removed many bugs, re-added newer features and cre-
     ated OpenSSH.  Markus Friedl contributed the support for SSH protocol ver-
     sions 1.5 and 2.0.  Natalie Amery wrote this ssh-argv0 script and the  as-
     sociated documentation.

SEE ALSO
     ssh(1)

Debian Project                 September 7, 2001                   SSH-ARGV0(1)
ssh-argv0

Replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling

root@kali:~# man ssh-argv0
SSH-ARGV0(1)                 General Commands Manual               SSH-ARGV0(1)

NAME
     ssh-argv0 -- replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling

SYNOPSIS
     hostname | user@hostname [-l login_name] [command]

     hostname | user@hostname [-afgknqstvxACNTX1246] [-b bind_address]
     [-c cipher_spec] [-e escape_char] [-i identity_file] [-l login_name]
     [-m mac_spec] [-o option] [-p port] [-F configfile] [-L
     port:host:hostport] [-R port:host:hostport] [-D port] [command]

DESCRIPTION
     ssh-argv0  replaces the old ssh command-name as hostname handling.  If you
     link to this script with a hostname then executing the link is  equivalent
     to having executed ssh with that hostname as an argument.  All other argu-
     ments are passed to ssh and will be processed normally.

OPTIONS
     See ssh(1).

FILES
     See ssh(1).

AUTHORS
     OpenSSH  is  a  derivative  of the original and free ssh 1.2.12 release by
     Tatu Ylonen.  Aaron Campbell, Bob Beck, Markus Friedl, Niels Provos,  Theo
     de  Raadt and Dug Song removed many bugs, re-added newer features and cre-
     ated OpenSSH.  Markus Friedl contributed the support for SSH protocol ver-
     sions 1.5 and 2.0.  Natalie Amery wrote this ssh-argv0 script and the  as-
     sociated documentation.

SEE ALSO
     ssh(1)

Debian Project                 September 7, 2001                   SSH-ARGV0(1)
ssh-copy-id

Use locally available keys to authorise logins on a remote machine

root@kali:~# ssh-copy-id --help
Illegal option --
Usage: /usr/bin/ssh-copy-id [-h|-?|-f|-n|-s|-x] [-i [identity_file]] [-t target_path] [-F ssh_config] [[-o ssh_option] ...] [-p port] [user@]hostname
	-f: force mode -- copy keys without trying to check if they are already installed
	-n: dry run    -- no keys are actually copied
	-s: use sftp   -- use sftp instead of executing remote-commands. Can be useful if the remote only allows sftp
	-x: debug      -- enables -x in this shell, for debugging
	-h|-?: print this help
ssh-copy-id

Use locally available keys to authorise logins on a remote machine

root@kali:~# ssh-copy-id --help
Illegal option --
Usage: /usr/bin/ssh-copy-id [-h|-?|-f|-n|-s|-x] [-i [identity_file]] [-t target_path] [-F ssh_config] [[-o ssh_option] ...] [-p port] [user@]hostname
	-f: force mode -- copy keys without trying to check if they are already installed
	-n: dry run    -- no keys are actually copied
	-s: use sftp   -- use sftp instead of executing remote-commands. Can be useful if the remote only allows sftp
	-x: debug      -- enables -x in this shell, for debugging
	-h|-?: print this help
ssh-keyscan

Gather SSH public keys from servers

root@kali:~# ssh-keyscan -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh-keyscan [-46cDHqv] [-f file] [-O option] [-p port] [-T timeout]
                   [-t type] [host | addrlist namelist]
ssh-keyscan

Gather SSH public keys from servers

root@kali:~# ssh-keyscan -h
unknown option -- h
usage: ssh-keyscan [-46cDHqv] [-f file] [-O option] [-p port] [-T timeout]
                   [-t type] [host | addrlist namelist]

openssh-client-udeb

openssh-common

Common files for OpenSSH
This package provides common files shared among all OpenSSH packages, including documentation and the ssh-keygen utility.

Installed size: 1.57 MB
How to install: sudo apt install openssh-common

Dependencies:
  • libc6
  • libfido2-1
  • libselinux1
  • libssl3t64
ssh-keygen

OpenSSH authentication key utility

root@kali:~# ssh-keygen --help
unknown option -- -
usage: ssh-keygen [-q] [-a rounds] [-b bits] [-C comment] [-f output_keyfile]
                  [-m format] [-N new_passphrase] [-O option]
                  [-t ecdsa|ecdsa-sk|ed25519|ed25519-sk|mldsa44-ed25519|rsa]
                  [-w provider] [-Z cipher]
       ssh-keygen -p [-a rounds] [-f keyfile] [-m format] [-N new_passphrase]
                   [-P old_passphrase] [-Z cipher]
       ssh-keygen -i [-f input_keyfile] [-m key_format]
       ssh-keygen -e [-f input_keyfile] [-m key_format]
       ssh-keygen -y [-f input_keyfile]
       ssh-keygen -c [-a rounds] [-C comment] [-f keyfile] [-P passphrase]
       ssh-keygen -l [-v] [-E fingerprint_hash] [-f input_keyfile]
       ssh-keygen -B [-f input_keyfile]
       ssh-keygen -D pkcs11
       ssh-keygen -F hostname [-lv] [-f known_hosts_file]
       ssh-keygen -H [-f known_hosts_file]
       ssh-keygen -K [-a rounds] [-w provider]
       ssh-keygen -R hostname [-f known_hosts_file]
       ssh-keygen -r hostname [-g] [-f input_keyfile]
       ssh-keygen -M generate [-O option] output_file
       ssh-keygen -M screen [-f input_file] [-O option] output_file
       ssh-keygen -I certificate_identity -s ca_key [-hU] [-D pkcs11_provider]
                  [-n principals] [-O option] [-V validity_interval]
                  [-z serial_number] file ...
       ssh-keygen -L [-f input_keyfile]
       ssh-keygen -A [-a rounds] [-f prefix_path]
       ssh-keygen -k -f krl_file [-u] [-s ca_public] [-z version_number]
                  file ...
       ssh-keygen -Q [-l] -f krl_file [file ...]
       ssh-keygen -Y find-principals -s signature_file -f allowed_signers_file
       ssh-keygen -Y match-principals -I signer_identity -f allowed_signers_file
       ssh-keygen -Y check-novalidate -n namespace -s signature_file
       ssh-keygen -Y sign -f key_file -n namespace file [-O option] ...
       ssh-keygen -Y verify -f allowed_signers_file -I signer_identity
                  -n namespace -s signature_file [-r krl_file] [-O option]

openssh-server

Secure shell (SSH) server, for secure access from remote machines
This is the portable version of OpenSSH, a free implementation of the Secure Shell protocol as specified by the IETF secsh working group.

Ssh (Secure Shell) is a program for logging into a remote machine and for executing commands on a remote machine. It provides secure encrypted communications between two untrusted hosts over an insecure network. X11 connections and arbitrary TCP/IP ports can also be forwarded over the secure channel. It can be used to provide applications with a secure communication channel.

This package provides the sshd server.

In some countries it may be illegal to use any encryption at all without a special permit.

Installed size: 3.50 MB
How to install: sudo apt install openssh-server

Dependencies:
  • debconf | debconf-2.0
  • libaudit1
  • libc6
  • libcrypt1
  • libpam-modules
  • libpam-runtime
  • libpam0g
  • libselinux1
  • libssl3t64
  • libwrap0
  • libwtmpdb0
  • openssh-common
  • openssh-sftp-server
  • procps
  • runit-helper
  • systemd | systemd-standalone-sysusers | systemd-sysusers
  • systemd | systemd-standalone-tmpfiles | systemd-tmpfiles
  • ucf
  • zlib1g
sshd

OpenSSH daemon

root@kali:~# sshd -h
option requires an argument -- h
OpenSSH_10.4p1 Debian-5, OpenSSL 3.6.3 9 Jun 2026
usage: sshd [-46DdeGiqTtV] [-C connection_spec] [-c host_cert_file]
            [-E log_file] [-f config_file] [-g login_grace_time]
            [-h host_key_file] [-o option] [-p port] [-u len]
sshd

OpenSSH daemon

root@kali:~# sshd -h
option requires an argument -- h
OpenSSH_10.4p1 Debian-5, OpenSSL 3.6.3 9 Jun 2026
usage: sshd [-46DdeGiqTtV] [-C connection_spec] [-c host_cert_file]
            [-E log_file] [-f config_file] [-g login_grace_time]
            [-h host_key_file] [-o option] [-p port] [-u len]

openssh-server-udeb

openssh-sftp-server

Secure shell (SSH) sftp server module, for SFTP access from remote machines
This is the portable version of OpenSSH, a free implementation of the Secure Shell protocol as specified by the IETF secsh working group.

Ssh (Secure Shell) is a program for logging into a remote machine and for executing commands on a remote machine. It provides secure encrypted communications between two untrusted hosts over an insecure network. X11 connections and arbitrary TCP/IP ports can also be forwarded over the secure channel. It can be used to provide applications with a secure communication channel.

This package provides the SFTP server module for the SSH server. It is needed if you want to access your SSH server with SFTP. The SFTP server module also works with other SSH daemons like dropbear.

OpenSSH’s sftp and sftp-server implement revision 3 of the SSH filexfer protocol described in:

http://www.openssh.com/txt/draft-ietf-secsh-filexfer-02.txt

Newer versions of the draft will not be supported, though some features are individually implemented as extensions.

Installed size: 181 KB
How to install: sudo apt install openssh-sftp-server

Dependencies:
  • libc6
  • openssh-common

openssh-tests

OpenSSH regression tests
This package provides OpenSSH’s regression test suite. It is mainly intended for use with the autopkgtest system, though can also be run directly using /usr/lib/openssh/regress/run-tests.

Installed size: 8.81 MB
How to install: sudo apt install openssh-tests

Dependencies:
  • libc6
  • libselinux1
  • libssl3t64
  • openssh-common
  • openssl
  • putty-tools
  • python3-twisted
  • zlib1g

ssh

Secure shell client and server (metapackage)
This metapackage is a convenient way to install both the OpenSSH client and the OpenSSH server. It provides nothing in and of itself, so you may remove it if nothing depends on it.

Installed size: 10 KB
How to install: sudo apt install ssh

Dependencies:
  • openssh-client
  • openssh-common
  • openssh-server

ssh-askpass-gnome

Interactive X program to prompt users for a passphrase for ssh-add
This has been split out of the main openssh-client package so that openssh-client does not need to depend on GTK+.

You probably want the ssh-askpass package instead, but this is provided to add to your choice and/or confusion.

Installed size: 46 KB
How to install: sudo apt install ssh-askpass-gnome

Dependencies:
  • libc6
  • libglib2.0-0t64
  • libgtk-3-0t64
  • openssh-client | ssh
  • openssh-common


Updated on: 2026-Aug-25