Keeping Your Ssh Sessions Alive

SSH is your trusty tool for remote access and file transfers, but there's one pesky issue: idle sessions getting terminated. Nobody likes being kicked out mid-task, right? Well, fear not! With the ServerAliveInterval command, you can keep your SSH connections alive and kicking.

Imagine this: you're deep into a server session when suddenly... silence. Your connection's gone cold. That's where ServerAliveInterval swoops in to save the day. It's a simple command-line option for SSH that sends a tiny "ping" to the server at regular intervals. If the server responds, your connection stays alive. No more surprise disconnects!

How to Use It

It's as easy as pie. Just add -o ServerAliveInterval=30 to your SSH command, like this:

ssh -o ServerAliveInterval=30 user@example.com

Here, "30" represents the number of seconds between each ping. Feel free to adjust it based on your needs. This nifty trick ensures your connection stays active, even if you step away for a coffee break.

System-wide Configuration (/etc/ssh/ssh_config): Update /etc/ssh/ssh_config to apply the setting globally for every user on the system. Open the file in your favorite text editor and add the following line:

ServerAliveInterval 30

It's not just about convenience; it's about maintaining productivity. Keep your workflow uninterrupted and your sanity intact.