What does `ssh` do? Flags & examples explained

ssh examples, explained

$ ssh -i key.pem -p 2222 user@host

sshlog in to or run a command on a remote machine
-iuse the given private key file
key.pemvalue for -i
-pconnect to this port
2222value for -p
user@hostan argument passed to the command

$ ssh -N -L 8080:localhost:80 host

sshlog in to or run a command on a remote machine
-Ndo not run a remote command (forwarding only)
-Lset up local port forwarding
8080:localhost:80value for -L
hostan argument passed to the command

ssh flags & options

-i	use the given private key file
-p	connect to this port
-L	set up local port forwarding
-R	set up remote port forwarding
-D	set up a local SOCKS proxy (dynamic forwarding)
-N	do not run a remote command (forwarding only)
-f	go to the background after authenticating
-v	verbose — print debugging output
-t	force a pseudo-terminal
-o	set an ssh_config option (e.g. StrictHostKeyChecking=no)

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.