iSSH updates, supports multitasking and port forwarding

One must-have app for me with any smartphone is a decent SSH client; I wouldn't move over to the iPhone until I was sure it had one. When Zingersoft's iSSH came along and I was able to kick its tires a bit, I knew I could safely move my life over to the iPhone. RSA/DSA key import support, an X11 client ... what more could I want or need?

Well, Zingersoft answered me with its latest update, officially released a few days ago. In this update is multitasking support, allowing you to keep connections open in the background for up to ten minutes on compatible devices. And because there's now multitasking capability, the update allows one to setup port forwarding tunnels.

If you don't have access to a VPN server to pass through firewalls in order to gain access certain systems, the port forwarding feature of iSSH is a godsend. As for the ten minute timeout, that's only to be expected. Though, I'm assuming all one has to do to reset the timeout counter is occasionally switch back to iSSH and back out again.

iSSH is a universal iPhone and iPad app, currently available for US$9.99 in the app store.

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Source: http://www.zinger-soft.com/iSSH_features.html

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One must-have app for me with any smartphone is a decent SSH client; I wouldn't move over to the iPhone until I was sure it had one. When...

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airmanchairman

Here's hoping that TouchTerm Pro and Mocha VNC catch up with iOS 4 upgrades featuring multi-tasking support and persistent SSH connections.

July 07 2010 at 4:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

samsonsu

The reason it can only run in bg for 10 minutes is that the system only allows up to 10 minutes of run time for any bg tasks started by beginBackgroundTaskWithExpirationHandler, unless the app marks itself as "audio background" or "voip background".

I'm thinking -- what if iSSH claims itself as "audio background" solely for the purpose that it will get chance to execute code periodically, even though the function of the app has absolutely nothing to do with audio? I guess it might be technically possible but will be blocked by app review process?

July 07 2010 at 2:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to samsonsu's comment

khirbat

I'm sure Apple thought of this and made this impossible to do.

July 07 2010 at 4:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

r s d

Could somebody tell a noob (me) why SSH is so essential for the iphone? what could I possibly do with it?

July 07 2010 at 1:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to r s d's comment

Brian Allen

You can remote into your home computer for shell access to do any of the following and more: tell it to reboot, control computer desktop, and similar.

You can use it for an instant check server functions by pointing connections at various server ports to verify online servers.

You can use it to access corporate networks via the ports your corporate network allows such as accessing corporate mail server via tunnel setup.

I personally don't use it much for shell command directly. I mainly use it for secure VNC access and checking server status.

July 07 2010 at 1:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Aaron Anderson

I think this used to be 4.99.

July 07 2010 at 12:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave Wood

Well worth $10

July 07 2010 at 12:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tape

$10 for an SSH app? seriously?

gonna stick with good ol' Mobile Terminal, thanks. yeesh.

July 07 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Tape's comment

Ryan

More than just SSH.

SSH, X11 server and VNC client.

July 07 2010 at 1:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brian Allen

Question: With port forwarding, can other iPhone apps use the forwarded ports?

If not, what is the use of this feature.

I use forwarded ports on my Mac all the time.

July 07 2010 at 12:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Brian Allen's comment

Brian Allen

Tested, so to answer my own question. Yes, apps on the phone can see each other's ports.

July 07 2010 at 12:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply