SSH tunneling is a powerful technique for securely forwarding network traffic between systems. Here's how to master it:
🛡️ Key Concepts
- Port Forwarding: Redirect traffic from one port to another securely
- Dynamic Port Forwarding: Create a SOCKS proxy for flexible routing
- Reverse Tunneling: Allow remote access to your local services
✅ Configuration Steps
Basic Tunnel
ssh -L [local_port]:[remote_host]:[remote_port] [user]@[jump_host]
Dynamic Tunnel
ssh -D [local_port] [user]@[jump_host]
Reverse Tunnel
ssh -R [remote_port]:[local_host]:[local_port] [user]@[jump_host]
🔍 Advanced Techniques
- Chaining Tunnels: Combine multiple jump hosts for complex networks
- Authentication Methods: Use keys (
-i [key_file]
) or passwords - Traffic Encryption: AES-256 is standard for secure data transfer
📌 Use Cases
- Secure remote database access
- Bypassing network restrictions
- Debugging services securely
⚠️ Security Best Practices
- Always use strong authentication
- Limit tunnel lifetimes with
ServerAliveInterval
- Monitor traffic with logging enabled
For more practical examples, check our SSH Tunneling Tips guide.