SSH

Connect to remote servers over SSH inside Clauge, save profiles for reuse, and get AI-assisted shell commands scoped to the server you're on.

SSH is its own mode in the left navigation — separate from Terminal (local shell) and Remote. Use it when the target is a remote host reachable over SSH.

How SSH mode works

• Profiles — saved connection definitions (host, port, credentials, routing). They live under Profiles in the sidebar and can be searched, so you don't re-enter details every time.
• Sessions — an active SSH connection opened from a profile. Until you connect, the main pane shows No active SSH session and prompts you to pick a profile or create a new one.

Create a connection

Open SSH, then click + New SSH Profile (or + New Connection in the empty Profiles list). Fill in the General tab:

• Connection Name — a friendly label, such as prod-bastion or my-droplet.
• Host — domain or IP of the target machine.
• Port — defaults to 22; change it for a non-standard SSH port.
• Username — the remote login user (for example root, ubuntu, or ec2-user).
• Authentication — Key, Password, or Agent (see below).

For Key auth, also set:

• Private Key File — path to your key (for example /home/me/.ssh/id_ed25519); use the folder icon to browse.
• Passphrase — leave empty if the key has no passphrase; use the eye icon to reveal while typing.

Optionally open Advanced to configure routing, then click Save connection. Use Import in the modal when you want to bring in connection details instead of entering them by hand.

Authentication

Choose one method per profile:

• Key — authenticate with a private key file. Recommended for most servers. Add a passphrase only if the key is encrypted.
• Password — authenticate with the remote account's password.
• Agent — use keys already loaded in your local SSH agent, without selecting a key file. Useful when you manage keys centrally (for example via ssh-agent or a hardware key).

Connection routing

By default, Clauge connects straight to the host (Direct). For servers behind a bastion or restricted network, open Advanced and set Routing:

• Direct — plain TCP to the host, with no bastion or proxy.
• Jump host — hop through an intermediate bastion to reach the target.
• Proxy cmd — route through a custom proxy or shell command (ProxyCommand-style setups).

Manage profiles and connect

Profiles are listed under Profiles in the SSH sidebar. Use Search SSH profiles to filter by name. If none exist yet, the sidebar shows No SSH profiles yet with a + New Connection shortcut.

Select a profile to connect. The main pane leaves the empty state and opens the live SSH session for that host.

AI Assistant

In the top-right, click the sparkle icon to open the AI Assistant (tagged SSH), or press ⌘L / Ctrl+L. Ask for shell commands to run on the connected server.

Suggested commands appear as code blocks with an Insert button — you review them before anything reaches the terminal. Destructive commands are blocked.

Credential storage

Saved credentials (passwords and key passphrases) are stored in your OS keychain, not in a plaintext config file. The New SSH connection modal shows a stored in keychain badge. Passphrase fields are masked by default, with a show/hide toggle so you can confirm what you typed before saving.