MobaXterm: The Free SSH Client That Makes Xshell Feel Limited
The SSH client that's even better than Xshell, MobaXterm is a gem I can't get enough of!
Because I need to connect to remote Linux servers, I used Putty and SecureCRT early on, and later mainly used Xshell.
Since I came across MobaXterm, I personally feel it's even easier to use than Xshell, and it's a real masterpiece among SSH clients!
The relationship between MobaXterm and Xshell is like that between IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse: it's more powerful and looks cooler.
Next, I'll introduce MobaXterm's download, installation, basic usage, and its standout features (advantages).
MobaXterm download
If you're using it personally, downloading the Home Edition (free) already meets basic work needs; if you want richer features, you can use the Professional Edition (paid).
I use the Home Edition v12.3 and it's already enough for my work.
1. Here's the download link for MobaXterm Home Edition (current latest version is v12.4):
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MobaXterm Home Edition download page
MobaXterm installation
The download is a zip archive, as shown below:
Downloaded zip archive
After extracting, double-click the msi file to install:
Extracted msi installer
Here are the installation screens (just keep clicking "Next" throughout):
Installation screen 1
Installation screen 2
Installation screen 3
Installation screen 4
After installation, you'll see the MobaXterm desktop shortcut, as shown below:
MobaXterm desktop shortcut
MobaXterm basic usage
1. Double-click the MobaXterm icon on the desktop, enter the interface, then select Session --> SSH:
Select Session --> SSH
2. Fill in the remote host IP and username, as shown below:
Fill in remote host IP and username
3. Click "OK" to reach the password entry page for the remote machine, and enter the correct login password for the host.
Select "Yes" to save the password; from then on, you won't need to enter the host password every time you access it.
Password entry and save-password prompt
At this point, you can operate the remote host and get to work.
MobaXterm standout features (advantages)
1. Built-in SFTP module makes file upload and download easy (drag-and-drop supported)
In the command window, navigate to the directory where you want to upload or download files; check "Follow terminal folder" and the SFTP directory on the left will jump to that directory.
1) Two ways to upload files:
a) Click MobaXterm's file upload button, select the file to upload in your local directory, click OK, and the upload completes.
b) In the local directory, select the file to upload and drag it into the SFTP remote directory; the upload completes.
2) Two ways to download files:
a) In the remote server directory, select the file to download, click the download button, choose the save path, and the download completes.
b) In the remote server directory, select the file to download and drag it out to the local directory; the download completes.
SFTP upload and download
2. Built-in monitoring makes it easy to check remote machine resource usage
Below the left menu, click "Remote monitoring" to see real-time resource usage of the remote machine; click again to hide it.
Remote monitoring resource monitor
3. Session list is easy to view
Work often involves different projects and requires connecting to different remote environments. We frequently create multiple folders to store session information for remote machines.
Session folder management
4. Rich variety of connection methods
Besides SSH, there are many other connection methods available
Multiple connection methods
5. Use Linux commands to view local Windows directories and files, just like a Linux system
Using Linux commands to view local Windows directory
6. Cool font highlighting effect
Taking Tomcat log file content as an example, some keywords are highlighted in different colors to make problem hunting easier:
Tomcat log keyword highlighting
7. Supports duplicating a Session window quickly
Right-click on a Session tab and select "Duplicate tab" to copy it
Duplicate tab for Session window 1
Duplicate tab for Session window 2
8. You can set different colors for different Session tabs
Right-click on a Session tab and select "Set tab color" to choose your preferred color
Set tab color
You can choose a basic color or a custom color:
Choose basic or custom color
After modification, the effect looks like this:
Effect after changing tab color
9. Supports listing multiple Session windows
The free Home Edition also supports opening multiple Session windows. When several windows are open, it may be inconvenient to find the specific one you want.
Click the "paperclip" button in the upper right of MobaXterm to see all open Session windows
10. Left menu can be popped out and hidden easily
- Click the collapse button on the left to hide the left menu
Click the left collapse button
Effect after collapsing:
Effect after collapsing left menu
- Click the "pop out" button on the left to restore the menu
Click pop out button to restore menu
11. MobaXterm mini-games
The Tools toolbar on the left offers a few mini-games
Tools toolbar mini-games 1
Tools toolbar mini-games 2
- Tetris
Tetris game 1
Tetris game 2
- Sudoku
Sudoku game
12. Supports four Session window split-screen layouts
Four split-screen layouts are supported: single vertical, vertical split, horizontal split, and quad split
- Single vertical layout (traditional, commonly used)
Single vertical split-screen
- Vertical split (can be used for comparing files from two hosts)
Vertical split-screen
- Horizontal split
Horizontal split-screen
- Quad split
Quad split-screen
13. After a Session disconnects, reconnecting is easy
It often happens that when you open a Session window, if you leave it idle for a long time or the network drops midway, you need to log back into the remote machine.
At that point there's no need to close the window and reopen it.
MobaXterm offers a convenient approach: just type R to restart the Session
Type R to restart Session
After typing R, you can reconnect to the previous Session
Reconnect Session after typing R
PS:
MobaXterm is honestly a masterpiece of an SSH client, and I strongly recommend you use it!
If you want to operate remote Linux machines in style, go try out MobaXterm's various "superpowers"!
MobaXterm's powerful features are sure to earn your admiration!