How to SSH from your Windows Mobile Smartphone

This tutorial will guide you through setting up and using MidpSSH, an open source (free) SSH and telnet client for Java-capable cellphones and other mobile devices.

1. First up - head over to the MidpSSH download page and downloading the latest stable version. You can also visit http://xk72.com/wap in your mobile browser and install it that way.
2. During the installation if you get a “This MIDlet is not trusted” message, click Yes to install anyway.



3. Once the installation has completed, MidpSSH will be listed in your Java Apps panel. Select it, then click it to launch. And by “click it” I mean use whatever button on your phone it is that opens files etc.



4. You’ll be presented with the MidpSSH menu. Highlight Sessions and then click it.



5. Click the Menu button, then select and click New



6. Enter the appropriate information in each field. When you’re done, click Create.



7. Back at the Sessions window, select and click your newly created connection.



8. If you’re prompted with a ‘warning’ screen about network usage, click Yes.



9. MidpSSH will now attempt to connect to your host.



10. Assuming you provided the correct credentials etc, you’ll find yourself connected to your server and at a command prompt. You’ll also notice that the font is so small it’s almost unreadable. We’ll fix this later (unless you like squinting).



11. To enter a command, click Input. Type in your command (in the example below, I’m using a simple ls to list the files in my home folder).



12. Now click Menu then select and click Type.



13. This will paste the ls command at the command prompt, but not actually execute it. Click Menu, scroll down to ENTER and click it.



14. Now the ls command will be executed.

    For those paying close attention, yes, you could have skipped step #13 by selecting Enter instead of Type back in step #12.



15. Another much faster way to enter commands is to setup Macros. To do so, click Menu then select and click Macros from the menu.



16. Highlight the default macro set, click Menu and select Edit. Give it a new name (for example, I named my first set of macros common commands.



17. Now “enter” your first group of macros by selecting its name and clicking. You’ll notice a rather empty screen. To create your first macro, click Menu and then New.



18. Give your macro/command a name (optional but helpful). In the Value: field enter the command you want to execute. In my example I used the ps command with the aux options.

    In the Mode section you’ll need to decide if you want the command to execute as soon as you select it (Enter) or just be pasted at the command prompt (Type). When you’re done, click Create.



19. Now select your new macro and click it.



20. And it will be executed (again, the command will be run if you selected Enter or just pasted to the prompt if you selected Type).



21. To disconnect, click Menu then Disconnect.



22. Back at the main menu, scroll down to Settings and click it.



23. Scroll down to Fonts and click it.



24. From here you can increase the size of the font used….



25. and alter the font colour and background colour.



26. Below you’ll find a screenshot of an SSH session with the font slightly increased.