How to Install Mosh on you Linux ec2 Instance

What is ssh ?

Secure Shell (SSH) is a fundamental component to virtual private servers (VPSs) and, generally speaking, Linux administration. The ability to connect two machines over a secure channel is invaluable, particularly when appropriately done with public keys, and many talented developers have bootstrapped SSH to build excellent tools like rsync.

What is wrong with ssh ? 

There area alot of things we can talk about when it comes to cons of ssh but let discuss few of them

1-It’s not graceful on spotty connections 

• You will feel alot of connection drop.
• Slow system response on low internet connections.
• Packet loss.

2-SSH has a few security vulnerabilities 

• Recent ssh Auth Bypass was really fun
• Has alot of security bypasses
• If you forgot to keep on the your ssh package you are dead.

3-Network latency leads to lackluster typing performance

• Slow typing performance.
• Doesnt support local echo.
• bla bla bla .

So what is the alternative ?

Mosh is meant to be a complete replacement for SSH, and focuses on providing a more robust connection, particularly over spotty internet connections. 

It has

• Using states for more reliability
• it more conservative design when it comes to security
• and it supports local echo while typing.

Getting Started:

Just like ssh we have to install mosh on both the client and the server system.

• Install on client:

• Download this package from here
• Cd to Downloads
• $dpkg -i mosh_1.2.6-1+b2_amd64.deb

Now we have installed mosh on our client machine

• Installation on server

• apt-get update 
• apt-get install mosh

Now the real problem is that mosh is using 60000-61000 UDP ports for communication which is not open by default according to the security policies on amazon ec2 so we need edit our security group policies and allow connections to be made with our linux machine [server]. 

To do that just fallow these 3 easy steps.

Step1: Go to you ec2 Dashboard and click the "default" security group

Step2: Now we have to edit the inbound rules so click "edit inbound rules".

Step3: Add two new Rules with the configuration in the screenshot below

Now we have done adding editing out security group policies. Now we just need to get connected from out local machine.

Connecting using Mosh

Use this command to get connected to your amazon ec2-instance

$mosh --ssh="ssh -p 22 -i /root/Desktop/ssh/creed1141.pem" [email protected]

and you will be connected to you amazon-ec2 instance with mosh. 

Thats it for now. Please leave a comment if you are facing any issues regards installing or using mosh.

Thank you

imran.