A simple way to quickly connect to headless servers or IoT devices without extra tools.
Shell In A Box (commonly known as shellinabox) is a web-based terminal emulator that allows users to access a Linux shell directly from a web browser. It provides a convenient way to manage servers remotely without needing an SSH client installed on the local machine.
Shellinabox runs a web server that exposes a secure shell session over HTTPS, making it especially useful for remote administration, troubleshooting, and quick command-line access.
Key Features
- Browser-based SSH access
- No client software required
- Supports HTTPS connections
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Useful for remote server management and demonstrations
Installation on Debian-Based Systems
To install Shellinabox on Debian or Ubuntu, open a terminal and run:
sudo apt install shellinabox
Once installed, the service starts automatically.
Accessing Shellinabox
By default, Shellinabox listens on port 4200. You can access it by opening a web browser and navigating to:
http://<your-ip-address>:4200
Log in using your system username and password.
Configuration
Shellinabox configuration files are typically located at:
/etc/default/shellinabox
From there, you can change the listening port, enable SSL, or restrict access for security purposes. After making changes, restart the service:
sudo systemctl restart shellinabox
Security Considerations
- Enable SSL to encrypt connections
- Restrict access using firewall rules
- Avoid exposing Shellinabox directly to the public internet
- Use strong user passwords or SSH key authentication where possible
Use Cases
- Remote server administration
- Quick terminal access from any device
- Educational demos and training environments
- Lightweight alternative to full remote desktop tools