MCP SSH Server

# How to Use SSH Authentication in Claude Desktop This guide explains how to actually use the SSH authentication examples you see in the documentation. ## What Those JSON Examples Mean The JSON examples you see in `usage-examples.md` are **tool call formats** that Claude Desktop uses internally when you ask it to connect to SSH servers. You don't need to type these JSON blocks directly. ## How to Actually Use SSH Authentication ### Step 1: Set Up the MCP Server First, make sure you've configured the SSH MCP server in Claude Desktop (see README.md for setup instructions). ### Step 2: Ask Claude to Connect Using Natural Language Instead of typing JSON, you simply ask Claude in natural language. Here are examples: #### Password Authentication **You say:** ``` "Connect to my server at 192.168.1.100 using username 'admin' and password 'mypassword'. Call this connection 'webserver'." ``` **Claude will internally use:** ```json { "tool": "ssh_connect", "arguments": { "host": "192.168.1.100", "username": "admin", "password": "mypassword", "connectionId": "webserver" } } ``` #### SSH Key Authentication **You say:** ``` "Connect to my AWS server ec2-xx-xx-xx-xx.compute-1.amazonaws.com using username 'ec2-user' and my private key at '/Users/myname/.ssh/my-key.pem'. Call this connection 'aws-server'." ``` **Claude will internally use:** ```json { "tool": "ssh_connect", "arguments": { "host": "ec2-xx-xx-xx-xx.compute-1.amazonaws.com", "username": "ec2-user", "privateKeyPath": "/Users/myname/.ssh/my-key.pem", "connectionId": "aws-server" } } ``` ## Real-World Usage Examples ### Example 1: Connect and List Files **You:** "Connect to my Ubuntu server at myserver.com with username 'ubuntu' and password 'secret123', then list the files in the home directory." **Claude will:** 1. Connect using the ssh_connect tool 2. List files using the ssh_list_files tool 3. Show you the results ### Example 2: Copy Files Between Servers **You:** "Connect to server1 at 192.168.1.10 (username: admin, password: pass1) and server2 at 192.168.1.20 (username: root, key: /path/to/key), then copy /home/data.txt from server1 to /backup/ on server2." **Claude will:** 1. Connect to both servers 2. Copy the file between them 3. Confirm the operation ### Example 3: Execute Commands **You:** "Connect to my development server using my SSH key and run 'git pull' in the /var/www/myapp directory." **Claude will:** 1. Connect using your SSH key 2. Execute the git pull command 3. Show you the output ## Key Points 1. **You don't type JSON** - Just ask Claude in plain English 2. **Claude translates** your request into the appropriate tool calls 3. **Be specific** about: - Server address (IP or hostname) - Username - Authentication method (password or key file path) - What you want to do ## Common Authentication Scenarios ### Home Lab Server ``` "Connect to my home server at 192.168.1.100 using username 'pi' and password 'raspberry'" ``` ### AWS EC2 Instance ``` "Connect to my AWS server using the key file at /Users/myname/Downloads/my-aws-key.pem and username 'ec2-user'" ``` ### VPS with Custom Port ``` "Connect to myserver.com on port 2222 using username 'root' and my SSH key at ~/.ssh/id_rsa" ``` ## Troubleshooting If Claude says it can't connect: 1. **Check your credentials** - Make sure username/password or key path is correct 2. **Verify server address** - Can you ping the server? 3. **Test manually** - Try connecting with a regular SSH client first 4. **Check permissions** - SSH keys need proper permissions (chmod 600) Remember: The JSON examples in the documentation are just showing you what happens "under the hood" - you interact with Claude using natural language!