shellhub-io/shellhub

What is it?

Key features

• 01Works with standard ssh, scp, sftp and port forwarding clients.
• 02Devices connect outward, so no public IP or inbound port is needed.
• 03Per-person SSH identities replace shared keys in authorized_keys.
• 04Default-deny access policies control which users reach which devices.
• 05Session logs record user, source IP and device for each connection.
• 06Web terminal lets you open a shell from the console.

Use cases

• Reaching servers or cloud instances that have no public IP.
• Managing fleets of embedded Linux devices deployed in the field.
• Giving team members audited, revocable SSH access to shared machines.
• Running a self-hosted alternative to a commercial SSH access gateway.

Quick start

1. 1

   Create a free ShellHub Cloud account, or self-host (step 2 onward)

2. 2

   Clone the repository at the v0.27.0 tag

   git clone -b v0.27.0 https://github.com/shellhub-io/shellhub.git
3. 3

   Change into the project directory

   cd shellhub
4. 4

   Start the server with Docker Compose, then open /setup on your server to create the admin account

   make start

Things to know

• !Self-hosting needs Docker with Compose and ports 80 and 22 free on the host.
• !Production use requires extra setup for HTTPS and other settings described in the deployment guide.

In collections

Topics

FAQ

What is shellhub?

Self-hosted or cloud SSH gateway that gives remote access to Linux devices and servers behind NAT and firewalls, with per-user identities. ShellHub is a centralized SSH gateway for Linux devices and servers. A small agent on each device dials out to the ShellHub server, so the device needs no public IP or inbound port, whether it is a server, a cloud instance or an embedded device in the field. You then connect through the server using ssh, scp, sftp or a web-based terminal.

Is shellhub free to use? What license does it have?

shellhub is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is shellhub still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to shellhub was on Nov 6, 2026.

What can I use shellhub for?

Reaching servers or cloud instances that have no public IP. Managing fleets of embedded Linux devices deployed in the field. Giving team members audited, revocable SSH access to shared machines. Running a self-hosted alternative to a commercial SSH access gateway.

How do I install shellhub?

Create a free ShellHub Cloud account, or self-host (step 2 onward) Clone the repository at the v0.27.0 tag: git clone -b v0.27.0 https://github.com/shellhub-io/shellhub.git Change into the project directory: cd shellhub Start the server with Docker Compose, then open /setup on your server to create the admin account: make start

Where can I get shellhub?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/shellhub-io/shellhub