Can I put SSH Desktop Web Mode behind an Nginx or Caddy reverse proxy with SSL?

Yes. You can bind SSH Desktop to 127.0.0.1 and reverse proxy traffic with Nginx, Caddy, or Traefik, terminating HTTPS on port 443 with Let's Encrypt certificates while proxying WebSocket connections to ports 2222 and 2020.

🌐 In-Browser Web Mode • Frontend Port 2222 • Backend Port 2020 • 1 Service File

Self-Hosted Web SSH Client & Cloud Desktop

Q: What ports does SSH Desktop Web Mode use?

SSH Desktop Web Mode operates via a single systemd service file (sshdesktop.service) with Frontend Web UI on port 2222 and Backend API/WebSocket daemon on port 2020. You access the web console in your browser at http:// :2222.

Manage your remote Linux infrastructure from any web browser on any device. Full macOS Sonoma Desktop GUI, PTY terminal, dual-pane SFTP, Monaco editor, and Docker management — with zero client installations.

Step 1: Install Server Package Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, Fedora, Arch

curl -fsSL https://sshdesktop.com/install.sh | bash

Step 2: Get Initial Admin Password & Token 🔒 Auto-Generated Credentials

sudo cat /var/lib/sshdesktop/initial-admin-credentials.txt

Step 3: Open in Any Web Browser 🌐 Frontend Port: 2222

http://<your-server-ip>:2222

✓ 100% Client-Free (Works on Chromebooks & iPads) ✓ 1 Unified Systemd Service File ✓ Frontend: 2222 • Backend: 2020 ✓ 100% Free & Open Source

Web Architecture

Built for Modern Browser-Based Administration

Why developers choose SSH Desktop Web Mode over legacy web panels and text-only terminal daemons.

💻

Zero Client Footprint

Access from locked-down company laptops, Chromebooks, iPad tablets, or mobile smartphones. Enjoy the full macOS Sonoma Desktop workspace without admin rights to install local desktop software.

⚙

1 Unified Systemd Service File

Managed entirely by /etc/systemd/system/sshdesktop.service. Boots automatically on server start, orchestrates frontend port 2222 and backend port 2020, and auto-restarts on failure.

⚡

HTML5 WebGL Acceleration

Sub-millisecond terminal typing response powered by Xterm.js hardware acceleration. TrueColor 24-bit rendering, clipboard synchronization, and full mouse tracking inside your browser tab.

🔒

Nginx & Caddy Reverse Proxy Ready

Bind Web Mode to 127.0.0.1 and terminate SSL/TLS with your preferred reverse proxy. Seamless WebSocket proxying for real-time terminal streams and SFTP upload progress.

🐳

Integrated 25-App Server Suite

Unlike text-only web terminals (ttyd, wetty), SSH Desktop Web Mode gives you visual Docker hub, 12+ database studio, Monaco code editor, system telemetry, and crontab schedulers in browser tabs.

💵

0 MB Idle Server RAM Overhead

Runs as a compiled, ultra-lean native binary. Renders UI elements on the visiting browser's GPU, leaving your Linux server's RAM and CPU 100% available for your applications.

Systemd Architecture

The Single Service File Architecture

Inspect the standard service definition located at /etc/systemd/system/sshdesktop.service.

[Unit]
Description=SSH Desktop Server Daemon (Frontend: 2222, Backend: 2020)
After=network.target ssh.service sshd.service
Wants=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/sshdesktop --server --frontend-port 2222 --backend-port 2020
Restart=always
RestartSec=5s
LimitNOFILE=65535
Environment="FRONTEND_PORT=2222"
Environment="BACKEND_PORT=2020"

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Download Linux Server Package → Read Web Mode Setup Guide →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What ports does SSH Desktop Web Mode use?

SSH Desktop Web Mode uses Frontend Port 2222 for the browser graphical interface and Backend Port 2020 for the core API and WebSocket terminal bridge. Both are coordinated by a single systemd service.

Do I need to install any client-side software on my laptop or tablet?

No. SSH Desktop Web Mode is 100% client-free. It renders the authentic macOS Sonoma desktop shell, terminal, and all 25 administration tools directly inside any modern web browser using HTML5, WebGL, and WebSockets.

Can I configure custom ports other than 2222 and 2020?

Yes. You can override the ports at any time using command flags: sshdesktop --server --frontend-port <port> --backend-port <port> or by editing the Environment variables in /etc/systemd/system/sshdesktop.service.

How does authentication work in Web Mode?

During initial setup, SSH Desktop generates a cryptographically secure admin token and password stored locally in /var/lib/sshdesktop/initial-admin-credentials.txt. You log in via this token and can create role-based users or integrate with Linux PAM.