Linux-tips

Want an SSH server running on your machine for remote access or proxy? (like breaking out of your corporate firewall to listen to net radio).

Setting up an SSH server for remote access or proxy is easy. Install the server:

apt-get install openssh-server

edit the conf file - /etc/ssh/sshd_config - if you want to change any default options, such as port settings.

Restart the SSH server after editing:

/etc/init.d/ssh restart

log in via: ssh username@domain - to use as a proxy log in via dynamic port: ssh -D 9999 username@domain then point your browser/app to socks 5 proxy, localhost port 9999

If you do not have a static IP on your home machine, you'll need dynamic dns - a service which providers you a domain, for example: mydomain.twilightparadox.com and then using your router software or a software client for your machine updates your ip address as it changes. One such free service can be found here. 

Security can be added via the hosts files, and using denyhosts. Denyhosts adds an entry to /etc/hosts.deny after a variable number of failed login attempts. You'll first want to add localhost and any other ips which frequently log in via SSH to /etc/hosts.allow with an entry like so:

sshd: 127.0.0.1

You can add ranges also:

sshd: 192.168.0.1/24