SSHtunnelid

SSHtunnelid is a command-line utility designed to manage SSH tunnels. It simplifies the process of establishing and maintaining secure connections between a local machine and a remote server, forwarding traffic through the SSH protocol. The tool allows users to define and save multiple tunnel configurations, making it easy to switch between different remote hosts or port forwarding setups.

The primary function of SSHtunnelid is to automate the creation of SSH tunnels, which can be used for various purposes. These include securely accessing services on a remote network that are not directly exposed to the internet, encrypting unencrypted network traffic, or bypassing firewalls. Users can specify the local and remote ports, the SSH server address, and authentication credentials such as username and password or SSH keys.

SSHtunnelid aims to provide a more user-friendly interface compared to manually configuring SSH tunnels using the standard `ssh` command with complex options. It often stores these configurations in a local file, allowing for quick recall and activation. This is particularly useful for developers and system administrators who frequently work with remote servers and require consistent access to specific services. The tool typically operates in the background, ensuring the tunnel remains active and re-establishing it if it drops.