Managing Linux servers from iOS/iPadOS


Whilst my main machines all run Apple operating systems, I still love the free, open source operating system - Linux. If you have been following my articles, you'd know that I maintain several Linux servers, both at home (RaspberryOS) and on the cloud (Ubuntu).

I still have a Linux desktop (Mint) running on an old Intel Celeron laptop, which is used for those special instances when the full Linux environment is needed (I don't have Homebrew <https://brew.sh/> on my Mac).

Most of my remote system administration needs can be provided by using the Mac Terminal and VNC (specially for the Raspberry Pi) since I am a sucker for doing everything via the command-line. However, the same can't be said of the iPhone and iPad - which is where I will list the tools that I use to manage my remote Linux servers.

My favorite terminal application for both iOS and iPadOS is Prompt by Panic.com. I have been using this for quite sometime already - on the iPhone and iPad. I just re-enabled PanicSync, a free service that allows users to sync their configurations across different devices, including your SSH keys.

Panic logo

Why just now, you ask? Well, it is because Prompt might be replaced by a new terminal application, La Terminal, from Xibbon.com. Did I say that I'm a sucker for FOSS? La Terminal is built on the SwiftTerm open source library. Whilst I have already invested on Prompt, there is no harm in having another terminal application, which is free anyway, since each has its own strengths.

I love Prompt's support for using FaceID/TouchID to protect your keys. Whilst both Prompt and La Terminal can generate SSH keys for you, La Terminal has an added option of generating keys and storing the private key in the Secure Enclave (which means nobody can get the private key, not even you), but that key is unique to a particular device only, of course.

It is just a bit weird that La Terminal syncs the Secure Enclave protected public key with other devices, which won't work since the private keys are obviously not synced. Anyway, what is important is the capability of generating and syncing your SSH keys across devices. One issue I have with La Terminal is that I couldn't, for some strange reason, get it to work with an Ubuntu instance running on Oracle's cloud infrastructure (I already sent a question to Xibbon about it), but Prompt can connect without any issues. Currently, that Oracle cloud issue is a La Terminal deal breaker.

Now that the terminal app is taken cared of, another application that I use is Secure ShellFish <https://secureshellfish.app/>. I purchased it when it was first released for its Files.app integration and Shortcuts support - once you configure it to connect to your servers via SSH, Secure ShellFish will provide an option on the built-in Files.app to allow you to transfer files easily.

Now Secure ShellFish has included its own terminal app. Frankly, I have not yet explored the numerous features of Secure ShellFish beyond its Files.app integration as I couldn't keep up with the developer's pace in adding new features!

With the exception of Secure ShellFish, I wish Prompt and La Terminal will also provide some Shortcuts support in the near future. I'd love to be able to run a shortcut to connect to a remote server, issue some canned commands (both Prompt and La Terminal can do this), get the result, disconnect from the server and display the result on screen on your iPhone or iPad - that'd be neat!

So there you go - three powerful iOS/iPadOS applications that are enough, at least for me, to manage my Linux servers remotely. How about you? Do you have other tools that you can suggest I try?