HostnExtra SSH Config

Official SSH configuration management plugin for hostnextra.

Manage SSH servers using friendly names instead of remembering IP addresses, usernames and ports.

Features

• Add SSH servers
• List configured servers
• Edit server configuration
• Remove servers with confirmation
• Connect using friendly names
• Local JSON storage
• Connection history
• Automatic backups before deletion
• Zero runtime dependencies
• Cross-platform support

Requirements

• Node.js 22 or later
• OpenSSH client available in your system PATH
• HostnExtra CLI (hostnextra)

Installation

Install the HostnExtra CLI.

npm install -g hostnextra

Install the SSH Config plugin.

hostnextra plugin add ssh-config

Verify the installation.

hostnextra plugin list

Example output:

Installed Plugins

✓ ssh-config

Update

Install the latest version of the plugin.

hostnextra plugin update ssh-config

Usage

All commands are available under:

hostnextra ssh

Show help.

hostnextra ssh help

Add a server

Minimum configuration:

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10

Specify a user.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --user root

Specify a custom SSH port.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --port 2222

Use a private key.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --identity-file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Add a description.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --description "Production web server"

Add tags.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --tags production,web

Use a jump host.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --proxy-jump bastion

Complete example.

hostnextra ssh add web-01 192.168.1.10 \
    --user ubuntu \
    --port 22 \
    --identity-file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 \
    --proxy-jump bastion \
    --description "Production server" \
    --tags production,ubuntu

List servers

hostnextra ssh list

Connect

Connect using the configured server name.

hostnextra ssh connect web-01

The plugin launches your system's OpenSSH client using the stored configuration.

The plugin automatically applies:

• Username
• Port
• Identity file
• ProxyJump

Edit a server

Update the hostname.

hostnextra ssh edit web-01 \
    --host 10.0.0.15

Update the username.

hostnextra ssh edit web-01 \
    --user root

Update the SSH port.

hostnextra ssh edit web-01 \
    --port 2222

Rename a server.

hostnextra ssh edit web-01 \
    --name production

Update the identity file.

hostnextra ssh edit production \
    --identity-file ~/.ssh/id_rsa

Update tags.

hostnextra ssh edit production \
    --tags production,database

Remove a server

hostnextra ssh remove production

The plugin requests confirmation before deleting the server.

A backup is automatically created before removal.

# Help

```bash
hostnextra ssh help

Local Storage

Configuration files are stored locally.

~/.hostnextra/
├── backups/
├── history.json
├── servers.json
└── config.json

Configuration Fields

| Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | name | Friendly server name | | host | Hostname or IP address | | user | SSH username | | port | SSH port | | identity-file | Private SSH key | | proxy-jump | SSH jump host | | description | Optional description | | tags | Server tags |

Examples

Development server.

hostnextra ssh add dev 192.168.1.100 \
    --user developer \
    --identity-file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Production server.

hostnextra ssh add production 10.10.10.5 \
    --user ubuntu \
    --port 22 \
    --identity-file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 \
    --tags production

Server behind a bastion host.

hostnextra ssh add database 172.16.0.20 \
    --user postgres \
    --proxy-jump bastion

Uninstall

Remove the plugin.

hostnextra plugin remove ssh-config

Your saved server configuration under ~/.hostnextra/ is not removed automatically.

License

MIT