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When we began our adventure in the field of Linux systems, having few systems to manage (ten) we relied on the simple, free and very famous Putty that allowed us to connect remotely in SSH to our customers' systems to carry out the classic routine operations at command line.
However, over time, and with the Boom we have had since 2015, this dozen systems became hundreds, and to date thousands and working in a shared shared environment, for multiple operators, it would have been impossible to continue to use an excellent tool for the occasions of a freelance or private, but reductive and limited thinking from an enterprise perspective with the need not only to be able to complete the administration functions of Linux systems, but also to do it in the fastest, most efficient, easy way possible.
In this regard, we have focused on what today seems to be the only valid and noteworthy solution, faithful companion of every system administrator who needs to have infinite tools in a single tool to facilitate work, namely Mobaxterm.
What is Mobaxterm?
MobaXterm is a package of amazing tools for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators and virtually any user who needs to work on Linux, Unix or Mac operating systems such as. Provides a command line terminal to interact with the underlying system. Before delving into what MobaXterm is and how to install it for free on your computer, we will examine all the various features it offers to its users.
MobaXterm is yours Ultimate toolbox for remote processing . In a single Windows application, it provides loads of tailored features for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators, and virtually any user who needs to manage their remote jobs more easily.
MobaXterm provides all the important ones remote network tools (SSH, X11, RDP, VNC, FTP, MOSH, ...) ei Unix commands (bash, ls, cat, sed, grep, awk, rsync, ...) on the Windows desktop, in a single portable exe file which works immediately.
There are many benefits to having an application All-In-One network for your remote activities, such as when using SSH to connect to a remote server, a SFTP graphical browser it will automatically appear to edit your remote files directly. Your remote applications will also smoothly appear on the Windows desktop using the embedded X server.
Tabbed terminals
First, MobaXterm provides not a terminal but the ability to open multiple terminals within a single window in tabbed mode. Each terminal can be for example for different purposes; one terminal can be connected to a remote shell via ssh while another is ftp to some other host.
Session management
MobaXterm allows you to start remote sessions. You can choose to create SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, SFTP or Serial sessions. Each session you start is automatically saved and displayed in the left sidebar.
X11 server
When you run an SSH, TELNET or RLOGIN / RSH session you will be able to view your remote applications directly on your local Windows PC. In an SSH session, there is no need to set the “DISPLAY” variable as MobaXterm uses X11 forwarding to facilitate and protect your work.
SFTP graphic panel
Once connected to a remote host, the left panel changes to a Windows File Explorer-like view. By default it points to the home directory of the logged in user but you can change it by following the terminal folder by selecting the “Follow terminal folder” checkbox at the bottom. I used it strictly to download or upload files from my laptop to remote host locations. This is a really cool feature and it saves a lot of time since I don't have to open another session for ftp.
Multiple execution
Definitely one of the most convenient features for the massive management of entire pool of machines in blocks of 16. Write once, execute everywhere: this tool allows you to execute the same commands on multiple servers at the same time.
Embedded servers
MobaXterm allows you to start network daemons for remote access. No additional tools or runtimes are required to use these daemons. Although it may be a minor functionality in terms of utility, it does well understand the caliber of the project and the instrument.
Built-in tools
MobaXterm offers some useful tools for system administrators, developers, webmasters and all users who need to work efficiently with their computer.
Remote Unix Desktop (XDMCP)
Thanks to MobaXterm you can work on your remote Solaris desktop as if you were working locally on your Windows computer using the XDMCP protocol.
Remote Windows Desktop (RDP)
Take control of your remote Windows computers / servers using the RDP protocol. Many RDP configuration settings are available in the session manager.
Support for macros
You can record macros in the MobaXterm terminal: everything you type in the terminal will be recorded to be able to play it later on other servers. This functionality is of infinite utility. Think of that difficult and complex syntax to memorize, you can save them with very eloquent names like “Search large files and sort”, “RAID status”, “Convert webp” and the like. Not only commands, but also code snippets to copy and paste into, for example, the wp-config file for us who work a lot on WordPress.
Syntax highlights
This is one of my favorites as by supporting many extensions, both programming and scripting language types, it greatly simplifies writing and maintaining your code. The possibility of changing the color schemes with a series of predefined schemes or through complete customization from scratch (custom) is an added value especially for those systems engineers who spend many hours at the end, perhaps in the night shifts, where the color scheme usually is he prefers low light such as white on black rather than black on white.
The MobaXterm embedded terminal can highlight syntax or use keyword coloring, even if you're connected to a remote server that doesn't support colors. This is especially useful when analyzing log files, modifying code, or trying to detect important keywords. You can even easily create your own syntax definitions.
Professional customizer
MobaXterm Professional Edition gives you access to the “Customizer” software. This program allows you to generate customized copies of MobaXterm with your logo and default settings.
What are the real advantages of using Mobaxterm for a systems engineer?
Mobaxterm is an extremely versatile tool that represents an invaluable resource for any Linux system administrator, even more so for those specialized in web performance and hosting as in our case. Its economical license, at only around €50 per year, is an expense amply justified by the benefits it brings to the daily workflow. This is an aspect that we have already highlighted through a post on our blog.
However, from our experience in the field these are the reasons why we will continue to renew the license.
- You can have an ordered and organized list of all Hosts. One of the main advantages is the ease with which you can manage numerous hosts. Anyone who works in hosting knows how chaotic a call from a customer requiring immediate action can be. Thanks to the visual organization function on the left sidebar, there is no more need to confuse between Web server and mail server, or to search which customer is having which problem. Customizable icons and mnemonic labels help keep everything in order.
- You can forget your passwords. Security is always a priority, but storing a large number of passwords is a challenge. Mobaxterm overcomes this obstacle by allowing you to save your SSH login credentials after a successful login, making subsequent logins quick and secure.
- Transfer files directly with a drag and drop. File transfer is made extremely easy with the simple drag and drop method. This feature eliminates the need to use protocols such as FTP or SFTP and to set up multiple connections. This all happens securely via the integrated SCP protocol.
- Launch X-based graphical installations. Graphically use Linux or Unix systems equipped with the X graphical system, exporting graphical sessions to the local MobaXterm X server.
- Uses Remote Desktop, VNC for graphical sessions.
- Export and import settings and hosts on other corporate hosts. Periodically updates the settings of the entire systems staff, exporting and importing the Mobaxterm configuration (and all the host credentials) on all the workstations used for system management. The whole company synchronized in little effort for maximum efficiency.
- Export the mobile configuration to Termius. If you need to keep your smartphone updated with all company systems, you have the option to export the configuration and re-import it on Termius, the best client for mobile (iOS and Android) and allow you to manage the entire fleet.
- Copy and paste functionality on multiple terminals. We covered this above and it is really a strong point, when you find yourself having to do maintenance on clusters from hundreds of systems in a rather short time, without having to resort to systems like Ansible or Puppet.
The work of a linux systems engineer, often made up of urgent urgencies, downtime, and a profession with a very high level of responsibility, becomes much simpler, easier and more serene, without excel sheets, with annotated passwords, multiple tools to do different operations, and with a management of hosts and customers really well done and organized.
You arrive at the end of the working day with much more peace of mind, less stress and above all you realize that you have been much more productive, and company budgets are affected, obviously positively.
Free version and Commercial version.
Mobaxterm is offered in two editions, a completely free and a commercial one, with the features you can see below. If you use the software professionally, it is always recommended to purchase the professional version, given the extremely low cost of the license, for less than a coffee a week. It goes without saying that it is a very complete and professional tool and that in fact it is not even at all comparable to tools like Putty.
If you are interested in testing it, even in the Free version, we encourage you to do so, certain that once embraced and tested for a couple of hours you will never go back.
The only defect, if we want to call it that, is that it is a specific software for Microsoft Windows and does not run on MacOS or Linux, however the quality is so high, that it justifies an emulation or virtualization environment such as Parallels, VirtualBox or VmWare just to make turn this gem around.
Conclusions
In an increasingly interconnected and digitalized world, the role of the systems engineer is becoming increasingly crucial and complex. It is a profession that does not allow for errors, where every minute spent accessing a system, recovering a password or configuring a file transfer can convert into costs not only economically, but also in terms of security and reliability. In this context, having a tool like Mobaxterm available is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Mobaxterm is not just a time-saving application; is an authentic game changer in the systems engineering sector. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that cover a broad spectrum of needs, from secure remote access to efficient credential management, to the ability to perform complex maintenance tasks on multiple systems simultaneously. And all of this is done while maintaining high standards of security, which alone justifies the investment in software licensing.
For a professional systems engineer, the question is not whether to use Mobaxterm, but how one could actually do without such a versatile and powerful utility. With Mobaxterm, you can confidently tackle any technical challenge, freeing up mental and time resources that can be dedicated to more advanced tasks, such as performance optimization or security strategy, instead of getting trapped in operational routines.
Mobaxterm thus becomes a true extender of skills, a daily ally in the world of systems engineering that allows you to face even the most stressful situations with serenity, providing that security and efficiency that translate into tangible benefits for every company. Using Mobaxterm is not just a smart choice; it is an essential step towards system operations that are truly up to the needs of the XNUMXst century.
