

SSH also enables you to share files to, and from, a Raspberry Pi using SCP (secure copy) on the command line, or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol). See also: VNC: Remote Control a Raspberry Pi desktop But while VNC shares the entire desktop, SSH works from the command line.

We’ve already looked at VNC (Virtual Network Computing) – back in issue 71 – and Secure Shell offers a similar service. It’s especially useful when creating Internet of Things (IoT) projects, as these may be embedded inside other hardware. It’s also ideal for lightweight distro installations that don’t have graphical interfaces, and projects that don’t have a screen (such as robots). SSH is handy if you want to quickly connect to a Raspberry Pi from a terminal window on another computer.

Get a free Pi Zero W, Official Case, and Accessories with your 12-month subscription to The MagPi. SSH (also known as ‘Secure Shell’) is an encrypted networking technology that enables you to manage computers from the command line over a network.
