SSH Kit is a focused SSH host manager for VS Code. It gives you one place to organize servers, reuse SSH keys, import or write ~/.ssh/config, and open Remote-SSH sessions without hunting through host aliases.
Keep SSH hosts grouped by project, environment, or team.
Open a host through Remote-SSH in the current window, a new empty window, or an external terminal.
Import existing SSH Config entries and preview what will be added, updated, or skipped.
Expand any host to copy its address, port, username, or key path.
Manage local SSH keys, copy public keys, and regenerate missing .pub files.
Back up and restore SSH Kit data, including associated key files when needed.
Quick Start
Install SSH Kit from the VS Code Marketplace.
Open the SSH Kit activity bar view.
Add a host manually, or choose Import from SSH Config.
Use the inline buttons on a host to connect with Remote-SSH or an external terminal.
Expand hosts and keys to copy details directly from the tree.
Main Features
Host Management
Folders for grouping SSH hosts.
Drag-and-drop hosts between folders.
Recently connected hosts at the top of the list.
Search by host name, address, or tag.
Batch delete and endpoint-based duplicate cleanup.
Remote-SSH Connections
Open the selected host in a current or new empty Remote-SSH window.
Show a readable Remote-SSH label with the host name and endpoint.
Use generated SSH Kit connection aliases without polluting imported host data.
Launch a native external terminal when you prefer a regular SSH shell.
SSH Config Import and Export
Import from ~/.ssh/config, including Include directives.
Preview import changes before writing them into SSH Kit.
Match existing hosts by name first, then by SSH endpoint.
Preserve repeated directives such as LocalForward and SendEnv.
Write managed hosts back to SSH Config with a backup of the original file.
Key Management
Scan private keys from ~/.ssh/.
Display key type and fingerprint.
Generate ed25519, RSA, or ECDSA key pairs.
Copy public keys from the tree.
Regenerate missing public key files from private keys.
Backup and Restore
Export host data and associated key files to JSON.
Preview restore targets before writing key files.
Skip existing hosts and existing key files instead of overwriting them.
Show failed key restore details when a backup contains invalid key data.
Command Palette
Available from Ctrl+Shift+P:
Command
Description
SSH Kit: Add Host
Add a host with guided input
SSH Kit: Add Group
Create a host group
SSH Kit: Refresh
Refresh host and key views
SSH Kit: Search Hosts
Search hosts and connect
SSH Kit: Import from SSH Config
Import hosts from ~/.ssh/config
SSH Kit: Write to SSH Config
Merge managed hosts into ~/.ssh/config
SSH Kit: Open SSH Config
Open the SSH Config file
SSH Kit: Clean SSH Kit Connection Aliases
Remove stale SSH Kit Remote-SSH aliases
SSH Kit: List SSH Keys
Browse scanned SSH keys
SSH Kit: Generate SSH Key
Generate a new key pair
SSH Kit: Regenerate Public Key
Recreate a .pub file from a private key
SSH Kit: Remove Duplicate Hosts
Find duplicate endpoints and choose which entry to keep
SSH Kit: Batch Delete Hosts
Delete selected hosts in one flow
SSH Kit: Backup Data
Export host data and associated key files
SSH Kit: Restore Data
Restore from a previous backup
Requirements
VS Code 1.100.0 or newer.
Microsoft Remote-SSH extension for Remote-SSH window connections.
Local OpenSSH tools (ssh, ssh-keygen) for connectivity tests and key generation.
Data and Security
SSH Kit stores host metadata in VS Code globalState. Backup files may include private key material when hosts reference local keys, so keep backups in a trusted location and delete temporary copies after migration.
Development
Source code is available on GitHub:
git clone https://github.com/Beautiful-blue-sky/vscode-ssh-kit.git
cd vscode-ssh-kit
pnpm install
pnpm run preflight
