An SSH client that keeps up with you
HostDock's terminal is a full SSH client for macOS with tabs across all your servers, jump hosts, per-server proxies and one-time-code logins. It notices a dropped connection within seconds and reconnects on its own.
What you can do
Tabs for every server
Open several sessions per server. One tab bar lists every terminal across servers, numbered so ⌘1–9 jumps straight to it.
Jump hosts
Reach private machines through up to three bastions. Each hop checks its own host key and uses its own login, and HostDock shows the chain as “A → B → this server”.
Passwords, keys and 2FA
Log in with a password, a private key (with or without passphrase) or keyboard-interactive prompts for one-time codes. Reuse one saved credential across many servers.
Reconnects by itself
If a keystroke gets no echo, HostDock probes the connection, marks the tab “Unresponsive” within seconds and reconnects. Press Enter to reconnect right away.
One connection, every tool
Terminal, files, monitoring and Docker share one SSH connection per server, so you log in once and the server sees one session.
Hide addresses
One switch masks every server address in the interface as ***, for screenshots, recordings and screen sharing.
At a glance
| SSH implementation | Pure Rust (russh). Never calls the system ssh binary; no OpenSSL or libssh2 |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Password · private key with optional passphrase · keyboard-interactive (OTP/2FA) · saved credentials |
| Key types | Ed25519 (tested). RSA and ECDSA keys are supported by the SSH library |
| Jump hosts | Up to 3 hops, each with its own host-key check and login |
| Proxies | SOCKS5 or HTTP, set per server |
| Host keys | Fingerprint shown on first connect; warning if it changes |
| Import | ~/.ssh/config (Host, HostName, User, Port, IdentityFile, ProxyJump) and JSON |
| Status bar | Auth method, proxy, latency, terminal size, time connected |
| Terminal font | Bundled JetBrains Mono or any installed font, 9–24 pt |
Frequently asked questions
Can HostDock import my ~/.ssh/config?
Yes. Pick the file in HostDock and it imports Host, HostName, User, Port, IdentityFile and ProxyJump entries, applies wildcard Host blocks as defaults and flags duplicates. Match and Include directives are not handled yet. Private keys themselves are not read automatically; you add them through the file picker.
Does HostDock support two-factor authentication on SSH?
Yes. Servers that ask for a one-time code through keyboard-interactive authentication work, including after a password or key, for up to 10 prompt rounds. Choose “Ask every time” as the login method to be prompted on each connect.
Does HostDock use the ssh command installed on my Mac?
No. HostDock has its own SSH implementation written in Rust, so it does not depend on or read the system OpenSSH configuration unless you import it.
More in HostDock
Bring your servers into one window
Free download for macOS 12 Monterey or later.