Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Customer login
Home
Demo
Features
Download
Plugins
Help
Contact
MobaXterm
Home
Demo
Features
Download
Plugins
Help
Contact
MobaXterm documentation
1. General
1.1. Presentation
1.2. Sessions
1.3. Multitab environment
1.4. X11 server
1.5. Unix-like terminal
1.6. Built-in graphical tools
2. MobaXterm interface
2.1. Different integration modes
Tab interface
Split modes
Detach tab feature
Services
SSH tunnels (port forwarding)
Global settings
Sessions manager
open command
cygpath command
/drives mount path
/registry virtual folder
// mount point
Executing native Windows programs
Other useful commands
Remote computing
DISPLAY settings
File transfer
Network monitoring
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 1/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
2.4. Other utilities
Editors
Miscellaneous
Plugins
MobApt package manager
3. Global settings
3.1. "General" tab settings
Customize
Font
Charset
Display separation line
Use Windows PATH environment
Paste using right-click
Backspace sends ^H
Show confirmation on terminal exit
Display scrollbar
Track terminal activity
Warn before pasting multiple lines
Log terminal output to the following directory
Customize syntax highlighting definitions
Engine
Keyboard
Unix-compatible keyboard
Automatically start X server at MobaXterm start up
Run on monitor
Display offset
Clipboard
Xorg version
OpenGL acceleration
X11 remote access
4. Sessions settings
4.1. SSH settings
Remote host
Specify username
Port
Do not exit after command ends
Execute command
X11-Forwarding
Compression
Remote environment
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 2/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Use private key
Follow SSH path (experimental)
Adapt locales on remote server
SSH-browser type
Remote host
Username
Port
Prevent MobaXterm from closing when this session is active
Remote host
Port
Username
Connect to console (/admin)
Redirect ports
Redirect drives
Use smartcard for login
Redirect printers
Enhanced graphics
Redirect clipboard
Forward keyboard shortcuts
Use CredSSP if available
Remote host
Passive mode
FTPS mode
Encrypt data channel
ASCII mode
Remote host
ASCII mode
Use private key
Remote host
Use SSH private key
SSH port
Customize
Customize
Terminal font settings
Backspace sends ^H
Use Windows PATH
Log terminal output to
Paste delay
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 3/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
4.10. Network settings
5. How to
5.1. Set up a passwordless ssh connection
On client side
On server side
Using /etc/hosts.equiv
Using ~/.rhosts
Share my sessions
Use sessions shared by someone else
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 4/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
What is SSH?
How can I use public SSH keys with MobaXterm?
Can I perform a SSH connection through my SOCKS proxy?
What is RDP?
How can I send Ctrl+Alt+Del through RDP (terminal service)?
MobaXterm does not display correctly some special characters? I encounter problems with my country
charset/encoding?
I can not run a Windows application inside MobaXterm. My Windows PATH is not taken into account in
MobaXterm.
I want to paste in the terminal using right-click / I am using a laptop and I do not have any middle button on my
trackpad. How can I paste text in the terminal?
How can I specify the characters delimiters used for selection when I double-click in the terminal
I would like to start MobaXterm from a BATCH script. How do I use MobaXterm inside my script? What are
the command line switches available?
I have a small screen and I would like MobaXterm to be more "compact" in order to maximize the terminal area
(or remote desktop area) on screen.
I would like to create a new plugin for MobaXterm. How can I do that?
What is the best way to secure my MobaXterm installation?
How can I backup/export my sessions?
Is it possible to share a MobaXterm configuration between multiple users?
Where does MobaXterm store its configuration or sessions?
How can I select where to put the configuration (MobaXterm.ini) file?
MobaXterm fonts are too small / too big. How can I change MobaXterm interface font size?
I have a group policy which prevents MobaXterm from running tools from the TEMP folder / MobaXterm does
not run because the slash folder is not writable
How to disable the penguins screensaver? How to remove the "Games" menu and games entries from
MobaXterm?
I love the penguins screensaver! Can I subscribe to MobaXterm Professional Edition and keep it?
I want to save my terminal output but when I choose the "Log all terminal activity to the following directory", I
get a hardly readable file with special characters in it.
MobaXterm does not run on Windows 2000: it says that the "gdiplus.dll" is missing...
Why does the SSH-browser tab not pop up when I launch a SSH session? / Why does MobaXterm prompt me
for a password each time the SSH-browser is started?
After connecting using SSH, I immediately get "Connection reset by peer" or "Software caused connection
abort" error.
My SSH connection freezes or drops out after N seconds of inactivity.
When connecting using a SSH key, I get the following error message: "WARNING: UNPROTECTED
PRIVATE KEY FILE!"
When connecting to a SSH server, I get the following error message: "WARNING: REMOTE HOST
IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED!"
When I hit the "backspace" key, it does not work (or it outputs ^H or ^?).
I want to ask for some support. Can you help me?
I sent an email but you never answered
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 5/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
1. General
1.1. Presentation
MobaXterm is your ultimate toolbox for remote computing. In a single Windows application, it provides loads of functions that
are tailored for programmers, webmasters, IT administrators and pretty much all users who need to handle their remote jobs in a
more simple fashion.
MobaXterm provides all the important remote network tools (SSH, RDP, X11, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, Rlogin, ...) to Windows
desktop, in a single portable exe file which works out of the box. Some plugins can be used to add functions to MobaXterm
such as Unix commands (bash, ls, cat, sed, grep, awk, rsync, ...).
1.2. Sessions
MobaXterm allows you to launch remote sessions. You just have to click on the "Sessions" button to start a new session.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 6/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
You can then choose to create a new SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, SFTP, Mosh or Serial session. Every
session you start is automatically saved.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 7/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
You can edit, delete, move, import or export sessions by right-clicking on them in the left MobaXterm sidebar. You can also
create a desktop shortcut in order to automatically launch a session or a group of sessions at MobaXterm startup.
Right-clicking on a session folder allows you to launch many sessions at once. It can be really useful when you often
work using the same environment and the same opened sessions.
The multitab environment allows you to work with many terminals or remote sessions at the same time. You can toggle
between "multitab" mode, "2-terminals" mode and "4-terminals" mode by clicking on the "Split" button.
MobaXterm brings another really useful mode called "Multi-execution" mode. This mode allows you to display all your
terminals at the same time and to write your commands to all of them at once: when you press a keyboard key, it will write the
same letters on all your terminals at once. This mode can be activated by pressing the "MultiExec" button.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 8/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
A X11 server is embedded into MobaXterm executable. This X server is based on the well-known Xorg server and compiled in
order to run natively on Windows platform. The X server supports OpenGL rendering and the latest extensions in order to allow
you to run up-to-date applications through it.
This embedded X server can also be used to render remote desktops: just create a new "XDMCP" session, then select your
settings, verify that your remote server supports XDMCP and start your session. If this does not work or if you need some
better security, you can also access your remote desktop through a secure SSH connection: start a new SSH session and in the
"Remote environment" setting, choose the correct desktop you want to run a the remote server.
You can tune your X server settings in MobaXterm global settings --> X11 tab. Be sure to select the right settings for
your configuration. If you have a very old application which does not behave correctly with default settings, be sure to
try one of the "Windowed" modes.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 9/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm features a great terminal emulator based on the efficient PuTTY program (by Simon Tatham). This terminal allows
you to run remote commands through SSH, telnet, rlogin or serial connections, but also to run Unix commands on your local
Windows computer thanks to the use of dedicated plugins. There are many Unix commands which can be used inside the local
terminal when using the "CygUtils" or other dedicated plugins: ssh, telnet, rlogin, rsh, rsync, wget, vim, corkscrew, httping,
fdupes, iperf, mathomatic, xhost, xprop, xdpyinfo, xmodmap, xkill, Xorg...
If you need an Unix command that is not included into MobaXterm, you can ask us to develop a plugin containing the
required program(s)
The terminal provides a bunch of settings that can be tuned in order to suit your needs (font, background/foreground colors,
antialiasing, old keyboards compatibility, ...). The default terminal parameters can be set by clicking on the "Settings" button.
MobaXterm comes with useful Unix command-line utilities, but also built-in graphical tools such as a fast picture viewer, a
developers text editor, a file/folder comparison tool, a ports analyzer and a packet capture tool.
The feature which is in our opinion the most useful may be the graphical SSH-browser: when you log to a remote server using
SSH, a graphical SSH-browser pops up on in the left sidebar allowing you to drag and drop files directly from or to the remote
server using your secure SSH connection and SFTP or SCP protocol.
In the SSH side browser, you can double-click on a remote file in order to edit it directly using your favorite program.
Your changes will be saved to the remote server automatically!
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 10/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
2. MobaXterm interface
Tab interface
Split modes
MobaXterm allows you to display some terminals in the same Window just as you would do using the "screen" utility.
You can display 2 terminals in horizontal or vertical mode, or even 4 terminals in the same Window
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 11/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm allows you to detach tabs in order to display them in a separate window. You can detach, reattach tabs or go
fullscreen using the right-click menu on your tab.
Services
MobaXterm allows you to launch some light daemons (TFTP, HTTP, FTP, SSH/SFTP, TELNET) from the main interface. You
can manage these daemons by clicking on the appropriate button from the top toolbar.
MobaXterm allows you to create some SSH tunnels (a.k.a. "port forwarding") with a nice and intuitive interface: you can
manage these SSH tunnels by clicking on the appropriate button from the top toolbar.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 12/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Global settings
You can edit your options using the corresponding button from the top toolbar. Your options will be saved to an INI file. You
can select a persistent home directory for keeping your files and parameters instead of having your home directory in a
temporary folder. You can also select the terminal fonts, colors, skin, transparency, keyboard shortcuts, specify a font server,
etc...
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 13/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 14/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Sessions manager
You can store your connection settings in bookmarks that are stored in your INI file. Sessions can be accessed easily through
the corresponding menu in the top toolbar or in the left sidebar, but you can also create a desktop shortcut to each session in
order to launch them easily.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 15/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm features a great terminal emulator based on the efficient PuTTY program (by Simon Tatham). This terminal allows
you to run remote commands through SSH, RDP, Telnet, Rsh or serial connections, but also to run Unix commands on your
local Windows computer thanks to the use of the "CygUtils" plugin:
open command
This command allows you to open your local files. This command will open your documents using the Windows default
association for your document type.
open https://www.google.com
open MyDocuments/MyWork.pdf
You can open files, directories or URL directly from the terminal by simply Ctrl+clicking on them.
cygpath command
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 16/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
This command allows you to work with dos/unix paths. You can obtain the Dos path from a given Unix path and vice-versa.
You can also list your computer paths like the Windows, System, Desktop, Profiles and Start Menu paths.
This directory contains a mount point for each drive of your computer. You can for example browse your system drive by cd to
/drives/c/
cat /drives/c/Windows/win.ini
PicView /drives/d/MyPhotos/Photo36.jpg
This folder is a virtual directory containing your registry keys and values. You can open and read a registry key by doing a
simple "cat" of these virtual files.
cat /registry/HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/DevicePath
cat "/registry/HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/Shell
Folders/CommonPictures"
// mount point
You can also browse computers from your network neighborhood by typing //<remote_computer>
PicView //server1/share1/Photo36.jpg
edit //server2/Documents/program.c
You can execute native Windows programs from MobaXterm as you would in a "cmd" console.
ipconfig /all
netsh -c interface dump
regedit
net user
calc
notepad
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 17/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Other useful commands
There are many other useful commands for interacting with Windows, like editrights, shutdown, regtool, ps, passwd,
MobaControl, mkshortcut, MobaSwInfo, MobaHwInfo, MobaTaskList, MobaKillTask, MobaControl[...]
Remote computing
MobaXterm includes some useful command line clients for executing commands on remote computers:
. ssh (utility to access shell accounts using a secure crypted connection)
. telnet (useful to login to remote system hosts)
. rlogin (same aim as telnet but using a different protocol)
. rsh (useful for sending commands on remote computers, especially using the passwordless feature)
Do not forget that you can bookmark your connections using the bookmarks feature (see the corresponding section for more
information). You can also set up passwordless connections with rsh or ssh, there is also a corresponding section to this feature.
DISPLAY settings
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 18/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
telnet remoteserver1
export DISPLAY=localcomputer1:0.0
nedit
exit
ssh -l root remoteserver1
nedit
File transfer
Network monitoring
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 19/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Editors
MobaXterm includes everything you need to edit text files: vi on command line, nedit for a graphical editor or MobaTextEditor
which is a light but powerful editor for developers with textdiff utilities.
Miscellaneous
Plugins
Some commands can be added to MobaXterm thanks to the use of plugins. You can download some ready-to-use plugins at
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/plugins.html .
If you want to add more embedded tools to MobaXterm, you can download them easily using the "MobApt" package manager.
3. Global settings
The "global settings" window can be accessed through the "Settings" menu.
In this window, you can configure and tune MobaXterm parameters in order to better suit your needs.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 20/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Choose a folder that MobaXterm will use as its HOME directory (/home/mobaxterm). This directory will persist upon
MobaXterm restarts, so you can store your SSH keys in it.
Define the text editor that will be used for text files edition. By default, MobaXterm will use its embedded text editor
"MobaTextEditor".
Put a new entry to the right-click menu of Windows explorer "Start MobaXterm here".
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 21/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm passwords management
Point to sessions files shared by your team members in order to easily share your sessions definitions with colleagues
Choose a folder that MobaXterm will use as its ROOT directory ("/" folder).
This directory will persist upon MobaXterm restarts, so you can store your programs in it.
Customize
Font
Define MobaXterm terminal font. This setting can be overriden in each session.
Charset
Define MobaXterm terminal default charset. This setting can be overriden in each session.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 22/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Show/hide the separation line between each command in local terminal.
Note: when this option is checked, contextual menu is still available using Ctrl+Right-click or Shift+Right-click.
Backspace sends ^H
Show a confirmation dialog on terminal close request when a command is still running inside it
Display scrollbar
Note: If you hide the scrollbar, you will still be able to scroll the terminal using Shift+PgUp or Shift + PgDown.
Icon of terminal tab is displayed with a blue dot if some activity is detected and title of inactive terminal tab is displayed using
blue color if terminal has been modified
Show a confirmation message before pasting multiple lines into the terminal
Check this option if you want to copy all terminal activity to a text file for further analyzis
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 23/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Create your own syntax coloration definition
Engine
Keyboard
Unix-compatible keyboard
Check this option in order to start X11 server at each MobaXterm startup.
Run on monitor
Display offset
By default, MobaXterm will try to open the ":0.0" DISPLAY, and will increment this variable if another X server already exists
on this port.
If you choose the "36" offset for instance, MobaXterm will start probing at DISPLAY ":36.0".
Clipboard
Define the way MobaXterm will handle copy/paste operations between X11 applications and Windows applications:
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 24/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
- disabled: copy/paste from and to X11 applications will not work
- enabled: copy/paste from and to X11 applications will work
- disable "copy on select": selecting some text will not automatically copy it, only explicit requests to copy text will be
handled.
Xorg version
OpenGL acceleration
- Restricted: Access control is enabled. You can use the "xhost +[...]" command in order to allow remote hosts to connect.
- Full: Access control is disabled. Any remote X11 application can connect to the X11 server. Warning: remote applications can
listen or simulate key strokes.
In any case, X11-Forwarding will work flawlessly, without any popup warning, as the X11-forwarding connection is made
locally using a secure connection.
Check this setting if you want to avoid flickering effect on MobaXterm main window, especially when resizing terminal or
when hovering buttons.
Warning: this can slow down MobaXterm graphical interface.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 25/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
4. Sessions settings
The "sessions manager" window can be accessed through the "Session" menu.
The session manager window allows you you to create remote sessions, configure them using advanced settings and save them
for further use.
Remote host
Specify username
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 26/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Port
Stay connected to the remote server after command has been executed
Execute command
X11-Forwarding
X11-Forwarding is a mechanism that allows the X11 protocol to be routed through an existing SSH channel. The main
advantages of this solution are:
- X11 protocol will be encrypted
- X11 protocol can be compressed
- There is no need to set up a new communication channel (and to open communication ports in your firewall) for X11: the
network packets go through the already existing SSH connection
Compression
Remote environment
You can also create and manage your SSH keys using the embedded MobaKeyGen application (available in the "Tools" menu).
Automatically place the graphical SSH-browser in the same directory than the SSH terminal.
Note: This feature is experimental and it will not work on old Unix systems.
SSH-browser type
Display a graphical SSH-browser which allows you to browse your remote server content.
Available settings:
- None: SSH-browser is disabled
- SFTP protocol: SSH-browser is enabled and uses SFTP protocol
- SCP (enhanced speed): SSH-browser is enabled and uses latest SCP protocol implementation for maximum transfer speed
- SCP (normal speed): SSH-browser is enabled and uses old SCP protocol implementation for legacy support
Note: unlike FTP protocol, SSH-browser uses a secured encrypted SSH channel for transport.
Remote host
Username
Type telnet username or leave this field empty if you want to use the "Login:" prompt instead.
Note: Some telnet servers do not support this feature: even if you choose a login, they will still prompt you at each connection.
Port
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 28/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
If you check this setting, you will not be able to close MobaXterm as long as this session is running.
Use this setting if you want to connect to the first available server
Choose this option if you want to specify the server name or IP address you want to connect to
Some old Unix systems (AIX, Solaris, HP-UX) need this in order to properly work
Clipboard
Define the way MobaXterm will handle copy/paste operations between X11 applications and Windows applications:
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 29/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Remote host
Port
Username
Redirect ports
Redirect drives
Redirect printers
Enhanced graphics
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 30/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Redirect clipboard
Keyboard shortcuts will be forwarded to remote desktop instead of being handled by local Windows environment
Remote host
Passive mode
FTPS mode
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 31/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
If this option is checked, MobaXterm will attempt to perform a FTPS connection to the server.
If this option is checked, the channel used for data transfer (files, directory listings) will be encrypted, otherwise only command
channel will be encrypted.
ASCII mode
Remote host
ASCII mode
You can also create and manage your SSH keys using the embedded MobaKeyGen application (available in the "Tools" menu).
Remote host
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 32/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Remote hostname
(mosh-server must be installed on this server)
You can also create and manage your SSH keys using the embedded MobaKeyGen application (available in the "Tools" menu).
SSH port
Customize
Customize
Backspace sends ^H
Check this option if you want to copy all terminal activity to a text file for further analyzis
Paste delay
MobaXterm will
1. open a SSH tunnel to your gateway SSH server
2. use this tunnel to connect directly to the end server
If you check this option, any attempt by the shell to set tab title will fail.
Uncheck this option if you want to allow the shell to change tab title.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 34/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Display reconnection message at session end
A message will be shown after session end asking you if you want to restart the session
5. How to
You can connect to an SSH server without supplying any password: this is useful if you want to run shell scripts that are not
interactive.
This can be done in 2 steps:
On client side
You will have to generate a public rsa key on the client. This can be done by launching the "MobaKeyGen" tool (from the
"Tools" menu) or by typing
On server side
Copy the file that has been generated on the client (".ssh/id_rsa.pub") to the ~/.ssh/ directory of the server and rename it to
"authorized_keys".
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 35/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
You can connect to an RSH server without supplying any password: this is useful if you want to run shell scripts that are not
interactive.
This can be done in 1 step:
Using /etc/hosts.equiv
Edit the /etc/hosts.equiv file on server side: you can specify in this file the authorized users that will be able to connect to the
server without supplying any password. The file syntax is:
<computer_name> <user_name>
Using ~/.rhosts
Edit the ~/.rhosts file on server side: you can specify in this file the authorized users that will be able to connect to the server
using the current account without supplying any password. The file syntax is:
<computer_name> <user_name>
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 36/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Inside MobaXterm local bash shell
Configurable shortcuts
Note that all these shortcuts can be configured through "Settings" --> "Configuration" --> "MobaXterm keyboard shortcuts"
button.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 37/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Using commandline parameters
You can edit a shell script (be careful, it has to be in Unix and not Dos format) and run it at MobaXterm startup. You just have
to launch MobaXterm with the following command line:
MobaXterm.exe <script_file>
MobaXterm also uses some internal commandline parameters that can be used by advanced users in order to integrate
MobaXterm in their own environment:
This command can be used to start a new instance of MobaXterm and immediately execute a given MobaXterm command
This command can be used to start a new tab inside a running instance of MobaXterm (or start a new instance of MobaXterm if
no other instance is running) and immediately execute a given MobaXterm command
This command can be used to start a bookmark by specifying its name. (Note: this only work for 1st level bookmarks:
bookmarks from subfolders can not be invoked by this command)
MobaXterm.exe -hideterm
This command can be used to start MobaXterm that is immediately minimized into the system tray
MobaXterm.exe -exitwhendone
This command can be used to exit MobaXterm when the given action is finished. This parameter should be combined with -
bookmark or -exec
MobaXterm.exe -i "<Ini_file_path>"
This command can be used to specify a path for MobaXterm configuration file (MobaXterm.ini)
MobaXterm.exe -log
This command can be used to write down some debug information in a log file
MobaXterm.exe -installshellext
This command can be used to install the right-click context menu in Windows explorer
MobaXterm.exe -installprotohandler
This command can be used to install the URL protocol handler, in order for MobaXterm to be able to execute sessions from
HTML pages
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 38/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm.exe -config
MobaXterm.exe -shortcuts
This command can be used to start MobaXterm keyboard shortcuts configuration window
MobaXterm.exe -doc
MobaXterm.exe -picview
This command can be used to start MobaXterm embedded picture viewer program
This command can be used to start MobaXterm embedded text editor (MobaTextEditor)
MobaXterm.exe -compfolders
MobaXterm.exe -noX
This command can be used to disable X server for the given MobaXterm instance
This command can be used to scale MobaXterm interface if the fonts are too small. You can try the following values: 120
(x1.25), 144 (x1.50) or 192 (x2.00)
Using bookmarks
Create a new bookmark, select the "Custom shell script" option in the dropdown menu and edit your shell script. You can then
click on your bookmark and choose to create a desktop shortcut to this bookmark.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 39/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Share my sessions
In order to display sessions shared by one of your colleagues in your sessions tree, you can:
This will add a new tree node in your sessions tree, in which you will find the shared sessions.
6.1. General
MobaXterm is an enhanced terminal for Windows with an X11 server, many network tools for remote computing and network
commands packaged into a single portable exe file. MobaXterm has been designed to suit the needs of computer users,
sysadmins, developers and webmasters by providing:
- a multitab terminal with embedded Unix commands (ls, cd, cat, sed, grep, awk, rsync, wget, ...)
- an embedded X11 server for easily exporting your Unix/Linux display
- a session manager with many network utilities: SSH, RDP, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, Rlogin and XDMCP
- some basic network daemons (TFTP, FTP, HTTP, ...)
- a graphical SSH tunnels builder
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 40/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
What are the main advantages of using MobaXterm over other SSH/SFTP/FTP/RDP/VNC/X11 solutions in
Windows?
No, MobaXterm has been designed to just perform the connections you request: no background internet connection is done
without your consent. Even the update mechanism is manual: MobaXterm will not search for updates if you do not click on the
"Check for updates" menu entry.
The X server (a.k.a. X11) is something very important in an Unix/Linux environment: it is the graphical layer on which all
graphical applications are based.
As X11 is a network protocol, applications that can display their graphical interface on a Linux/Unix desktop can also display it
through the network on another computer as well. This 2nd computer only needs to run an X11 server to display them.
MobaXterm includes an X11 server, based on "X.Org", that allows you to display remote graphical Linux/Unix applications on
your local Windows computer with great speed and performances.
Example: On your remote Unix/Linux computer, you just have to perform the following command:
DISPLAY=MY_WINDOWS_HOST_RUNNING_MOBAXTERM:0.0 xclock
...and you will see the "xclock" interface on your Windows desktop
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 41/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
X11-Forwarding is a mechanism that allows the X11 protocol to be routed through an existing SSH channel. The main
advantages of this solution are:
- X11 protocol will be encrypted
- X11 protocol can be compressed
- There is no need to set up a new communication channel (and to open communication ports in your firewall) for X11: the
network packets go through the already existing SSH connection
With MobaXterm, it is really easy to use X11-Forwarding: just connect to your server and keep the "X11-Forwarding" setting
checked in your SSH session. Then, from the remote server prompt, run "xclock". You will see the "xclock" interface which has
been transfered through SSH on your Windows desktop.
If you check the "DISPLAY" environment variable on your remote server, you will notice that it is set to something like
"DISPLAY=localhost:10.0". This is the standard behaviour for X11-Forwarding: it means that any program will use a local
virtual display (:10.0) which is created by SSH and which will be automatically forwarded trhough the SSH connection to
MobaXterm display.
I want to change MobaXterm X server DISPLAY address to my second network adapter (or my VPN adapter).
How can I do this?
I have an issue with an X11 remote program (Java/X11/Motif) which does not accept keyboard input: everytime I
press a keyboard key, nothing is written on the text field
This problem can generally be solved easily by using X11 with a window manager instead of using X11 in "multiwindow"
(transparent) mode: go to MobaXterm "Settings" window --> "X11" tab --> select "Windowed mode with Fvwm" setting in the
combo box and apply. Restart your remote program and it should take keyboard input correctly.
If you want to use the standard "multiwindow" (transparent) X11 server and occasionally use the windowed X11 server with the
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 42/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
window manager, you can go to MobaXterm "Settings" window --> "X11" tab --> select "Multiwindow mode" setting in the
combo box and apply, then open the "tools" menu and select either "X11 tab with Dwm" or "X11 window with Fvwm2".
How do the X11 tabs with DWM work? Why does MobaXterm include this "tiling" window manager?
DWM is a powerful and robust window manager which implements a smart way of arranging windows in order to gain space.
Windows are automatically placed side by side so that they all occupy the maximum available space on the desktop.
- To move a window, use "Alt + Left click"
- To resize a window, use "Alt + Right click"
How can I simply launch the X11 server without starting the full MobaXterm environment?
You can launch the X11 server at MobaXterm startup and completely hide the terminal by using the "-hideterm" command:
C:\Some\Place\MobaXterm.exe -hideterm
This will launch MobaXterm minimzed in the system tray and start the X11 server.
Does MobaXterm X server support OpenGL? How can I use hardware acceleration?
export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1
How can I display a full remote desktop from a Unix/Linux server in MobaXterm (Gnome, KDE, FVWM,
Openbox, Fluxbox, IceWM, XFCE, Blackbox, DWM, Enlightenment, LXDE, ...)?
the combo box and apply, then start a new SSH session and choose the appropriate desktop in the "Remote environment" field.
What is SSH?
MobaXterm includes a SSH client (with SFTP and SCP) which allows secure encrypted connections to be set up through the
network. The SSH client embedded in MobaXterm is based on the efficient and secure SSH client PuTTY by Simon Tatham.
Note: You can also use the graphical SSH keys manager "MobaKeyGen" (from the "Tools" menu).
Then copy the file that has been generated on the client (".ssh/id_rsa.pub") to the ~/.ssh/ directory of the server and rename it to
"authorized_keys":
If the ".ssh/authorized_keys" file already exists, just append your own public key to the file:
Of course, you will have to set a persistent home directory if you want your generated keys to persist through MobaXterm
restarts. A persistent home directory can be set in "Settings" --> "Configuration" --> "General" tab.
Yes, since version 6.6 of MobaXterm, this feature can be set directly in your SSH sessions.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 44/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
What is RDP?
RDP (a.k.a. "Terminal Services" or "TS") is a remote display protocol introduced by Microsoft for Windows OS. It allows users
to connect to a remote host while displaying and interacting with the remote desktop using the local keyboard and mouse.
You can send the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys combination to your RDP remote server by using the "Ctrl+Alt+END" keys combination
The Tunneling tool embedded inside MobaXterm ("MobaSSHTunnel) is a graphical interface for easily creating SSH tunnels.
SSH tunnels (a.k.a. "port forwarding") allow users to redirect traffic from one port on one computer to another computer and
port. The main advantages of this solution are:
- No need to open new connection ports inside firewalls
- No need to set up a proxy or a gateway when remote computers are not accessible directly
- Redirected traffic is secured by SSH encryption
MobaXterm does not display correctly some special characters? I encounter problems with my country
charset/encoding?
You can tell MobaXterm to use "UTF-8" character set by going to the "Settings" menu --> "configuration" --> "Terminal" tab --
> choose the "UTF-8 (unicode)" entry from the "Charset" setting.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 45/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
I can not run a Windows application inside MobaXterm. My Windows PATH is not taken into account in
MobaXterm.
You can tell MobaXterm to use the Windows PATH by going to the "Settings" menu --> "configuration" --> "Terminal" tab -->
check the "Append Windows PATH environment variable to MobaXterm" setting.
I want to paste in the terminal using right-click / I am using a laptop and I do not have any middle button on my
trackpad. How can I paste text in the terminal?
You can tell MobaXterm to use right click for pasting by going to the "Settings" menu --> "configuration" --> "Terminal" tab --
> check the "Paste using right click" setting.
If you are using a session, edit your session, go to the "Terminal settings" tab and check the "Paste using right-click" setting.
When this option is checked, contextual menu is still available using Ctrl+Right-click or Shift+Right-click
How can I specify the characters delimiters used for selection when I double-click in the terminal
It is possible to specify the characters that MobaXterm will consider as "not-delimiters" in order to tune the automatic selection
when double-clicking in the terminal:
- Close MobaXterm
- edit your "MobaXterm.ini" file using a text editor
- under the "[Misc]" section, just create a new entry
LeftDelimChars=<characters_I_dont_want_to_be_treated_as_delimiters> (alphanumerical characters are automatically taken
into account)
RightDelimChars=<characters_I_dont_want_to_be_treated_as_delimiters> (alphanumerical characters are automatically taken
into account)
for instance:
LeftDelimChars=/~+-.&?$%
RightDelimChars=/~+-.&?%
- Restart MobaXterm and try to double-click in the terminal in order to test your new selection setting.
I would like to start MobaXterm from a BATCH script. How do I use MobaXterm inside my script? What are the
command line switches available?
About launching MobaXterm from a batch file, you have many possibilities. For instance, let's say you need to start an SSH
session from a batch file, keeping MobaXterm hidden and to launch an X application from that remote ssh server.
You can do this by using
- the "-hideterm" switch for hidding MobaXterm
- the "-exitwhendone" switch for closing MobaXterm after session exits
- the "-exec" switch for executing a command
For instance, this command launches an "xclock" window from MYREMOTESERVER:
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 46/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
A full list of command line arguments is available in the "Execute a shell script at MobaXterm startup" section.
I have a small screen and I would like MobaXterm to be more "compact" in order to maximize the terminal area
(or remote desktop area) on screen.
There is a "Compact mode" setting which should suit your need: You just have to click on "View" --> "Compact mode" in order
to put MobaXterm in a very basic interface mode.
Note that you can still access the menu by clicking on the button at the right of the tabs bar.
You can also detach MobaXterm tab by dragging and dropping the tab outside MobaXterm.
I would like to create a new plugin for MobaXterm. How can I do that?
MobaXterm is already a secure program: its SSH connections are encrypted using well-known algorithms, its sources are
available so that anyone can audit them, its passwords can be stored with strong encryption. However, depending on your
company security rules, you can disable some features which may be considered as unsafe: in the "customizer" program, go to
the "Settings" tab, then to the "Security" tab. Each setting can be leaved unchecked (less secure) or checked (more secure), you
will have to make some choices between features and security.
For instance:
- if users do not use any of the embedded servers, we recommend to check the "Disable servers" box.
- if users do not need any packet capture or network scanner / port scanner tools, we recommend to check the corresponding
items
- we would also recommend to disable unsecure protocols, such as telnet or rlogin and use SSH instead. In case an unsecure
protocol is needed and cannot be replaced by SSH, then it can be "tunneled" through a secure SSH connection (you can use the
"SSH gateway" setting in telnet sessions to do so).
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 47/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
How can I backup/export my sessions?
You can export your sessions by right-clicking on a sessions folder and choose "Export sessions from this folder". This will
export your sessions to a file. You can then import these sessions to another computer using right-click on the sessions folder
and choose "Import sessions into this folder".
There are 3 ways to share the same MobaXterm configuration between your team members:
- With the professional edition of MobaXterm, the "customizer" program allows you to hardcode some sessions into
MobaXterm executable and to generate an executable which will contain these sessions. You can then distribute this
exeucutable to all your team members.
or
- Using any edition of MobaXterm, you can store MobaXterm executable and its "MobaXterm.ini" configuration file on a
shared folder and tell your users to launch MobaXterm from there in order for them to get the sessions you previously
configured. However, if you do not want any user to add sessions to the shared "MobaXterm.ini" configuration file, you should
set this shared folder as read only.
or
- You can put the "MobaXterm.ini" configuration file on a shared folder or on a web server. Then, if your users launch
MobaXterm using the appropriate command line, it will tell MobaXterm to get its sessions from there.
For instance, you can start MobaXterm using the following command:
C:\Some\place\MobaXterm.exe -i "https://myintranet/MobaXterm.ini"
C:\Some\place\MobaXterm.exe -i "\\MySharedFolder\MobaXterm.ini"
MobaXterm stores its configuration and sessions settings in a file called "MobaXterm.ini".
This file can be found
- in the "MyDocuments\MobaXterm" folder if you use the installed edition
- in the same folder than MobaXterm program if you use the portable edition
- in the "%AppData\MobaXterm" folder with some versions of MobaXterm
You can use the "-i" commandline setting in order to determine the configuration file path for MobaXterm.
For instance, you can start MobaXterm using the following command:
C:\Some\place\MobaXterm.exe -i "D:\Data\MobaXterm.ini"
or
C:\Some\place\MobaXterm.exe -i "\\MySharedFolder\MobaXterm.ini"
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 48/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
MobaXterm fonts are too small / too big. How can I change MobaXterm interface font size?
You can use the "-dpi" commandline setting in order to determine the scaling factor used by MobaXterm for its graphical
interface.
The dpi value van vary from 96 (normal fonts) to 240 (very big fonts)
For instance, if you want very big fonts you can start MobaXterm using the following command:
I have a group policy which prevents MobaXterm from running tools from the TEMP folder / MobaXterm does
not run because the slash folder is not writable
- using an admin account, put MobaXterm executable file in a folder from which your policy allows you to run executables
- run MobaXterm with admin privileges using the commandline "MobaXterm.exe -justunpack". This will uncompress the core
files of MobaXterm in the "AdmSlash" subfolder and display a message when it is done
- as a "normal" user with no admin rights, run MobaXterm from there. This will create the folders structure in the user
directory, but will execute files from the read-only directory
How to disable the penguins screensaver? How to remove the "Games" menu and games entries from
MobaXterm?
The penguins screensaver and the games have been added to bring fun to MobaXterm terminal. Users who use MobaXterm
inside a company might want to disable these tools in order to have a more convenient tool for working. That is why the
Professional edition of MobaXterm allows you to disable the screensaver and to remove the games and corresponding menu
entries from the program.
I love the penguins screensaver! Can I subscribe to MobaXterm Professional Edition and keep it?
We are glad you enjoy this screensaver: we spent a lot of time developing it! Of course, in the Professional Edition of
MobaXterm, you can keep the penguins screensaver (and the games) if you want.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 49/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
I want to save my terminal output but when I choose the "Log all terminal activity to the following directory", I
get a hardly readable file with special characters in it.
If you just want to save the output from a terminal, please use the "Terminal" menu --> "Save terminal text". About the terminal
logging, it can be used to log anything that is displayed inside the terminal. If you want to re-open a log file, please use
MobaTextEditor in order to remove these special characters from the file.
MobaXterm does not run on Windows 2000: it says that the "gdiplus.dll" is missing...
MobaXterm is compatible with Windows 2000, but on old Windows 2000 installations, it can display an error message about a
missing dll "gdiplus.dll", but you can download it for free and put it in the same folder as mobaxterm executable in order to
make it work: https://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?gdiplus
Why does the SSH-browser tab not pop up when I launch a SSH session? / Why does MobaXterm prompt me for
a password each time the SSH-browser is started?
This means that your SSH server authentication is set to "Keyboard-interactive" mode. In order for MobaXterm to be able to
save SSH passwords or to launch the SSH-browser without asking for password twice, you will have to re-enable "normal"
password authentication on your server:
- Edit the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file on your server, and comment the following line:
PasswordAuthentication no
/etc/init.d/sshd restart
- Connect using MobaXterm SSH client and you will notice that:
- the SFTP tab will be correctly launched
- you will be prompted to save your password if you want
You should also verify if you have any "echo" commands in your profiling scripts on server side: as per the openssh FAQ at
https://www.openssh.com/faq.html, if your startup scripts echo any kind of output, SFTP will not work.
After connecting using SSH, I immediately get "Connection reset by peer" or "Software caused connection abort"
error.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 50/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
This can happen if an old or light SSH product installed on your remote server. As a workaround, you can try to
- Check the "Workaround for connection reset by peer issue" box under "Settings" --> "Configuration" --> "SSH" tab
- Uncheck the "Compression" box in your SSH session settings
- Uncheck the "SSH-browser" box in your SSH session settings
This is usually the result of a packet filter or NAT device timing out your TCP connection due to inactivity. You can check the
"Enable SSH keepalive" box under "Settings" --> "Configuration" --> "SSH" tab.
Enabling this option will ensure that the connection is kept "fresh" in the device's connection table.
When connecting using a SSH key, I get the following error message: "WARNING: UNPROTECTED PRIVATE
KEY FILE!"
This can happen on some configurations: the "/home/mobaxterm/.ssh" folder belongs to no group. In order to correct this, you
will have to type the following command in a new MobaXterm terminal:
chgrp UsersGrp *
When connecting to a SSH server, I get the following error message: "WARNING: REMOTE HOST
IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED!"
This warning is displayed when your remote host unique identifier has changed. This can be caused by a server re-installation,
but it can also be a "man-in-the-middle" attack.
If you changed or re-install this server recently, and if you are really sure that no other computer is using its IP address, then
you can reset this alarm by deleting MobaXterm ~/.ssh/known_hosts file: open a new MobaXterm terminal tab and type the
following command:
rm ~/.ssh/known_hosts
When I hit the "backspace" key, it does not work (or it outputs ^H or ^?).
Some console utilities don't interpret the backspace character (^H) as a backspace and need a delete instead.
In this case, you can edit your session, go to the "Terminal settings" tab and toggle the "Backspace sends ^H" setting. It should
allow for the "Backspace" key to function correctly without affecting how the command shell works.
If you are using a session, edit this session and in the "Terminal settings" sub-section, toggle the "Backspace sends ^H" setting.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 51/52
14/03/2018 MobaXterm Xserver with SSH, telnet, RDP, VNC and X11 - Documentation
Please send us an email by going to the "Help" menu --> "About MobaXterm" --> "Send us an email". In this email, please tell
us:
- Which version and which edition (personal or professional) of MobaXterm you are using
- Which Windows version you are using
- In case you encounter an issue, please describe precisely what happens (error message, freeze, etc...) and try to give us a step
by step procedure we can follow in order to reproduce the bug.
Please allow the "mobatek.net" domain in your email server so that our emails will not go to your SPAM folder. Also verify that
you correctly wrote your email address in the contact form.
https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/documentation.html#5_1_1 52/52