Connecting to a server

termscp can start in three different ways depending on the arguments you pass.

• No arguments: termscp opens the authentication form, where you provide the parameters required to connect to the remote host.
• An address argument: termscp skips the authentication form and connects directly to the remote host.
• A bookmark name with -b <bookmark-name>: termscp resolves the argument as a saved bookmark and connects. Repeat -b to open several bookmarks.

When you provide an address argument or a bookmark name, you can also provide a start working directory for the local host.

The authentication form

When termscp starts without an address, it shows the authentication form. Fill in the protocol, address, port, username, and password, then connect. termscp will open the dual-pane explorer once the connection succeeds.

Address argument syntax

The generic address argument has the following syntax:

[protocol://][username@]<address>[:port][:wrkdir]

This syntax is convenient, and you will probably use it instead of the interactive form. Here are some examples.

Connect using the default protocol (defined in your configuration) to 192.168.1.31. If the port is not provided, the default port for the selected protocol is used. The username is the current user’s name.

termscp 192.168.1.31

Connect using the default protocol to 192.168.1.31 as user root:

termscp root@192.168.1.31

Connect using SCP to 192.168.1.31 on port 4022 as user omar:

termscp scp://omar@192.168.1.31:4022

Connect using SCP to 192.168.1.31 on port 4022 as user omar, starting in directory /tmp:

termscp scp://omar@192.168.1.31:4022:/tmp

For protocol-specific address syntax (S3, Kube, WebDAV, and SMB), see Connection parameters.

How the password is provided

When you provide the address as an argument, there is no field for the password in the address itself. You can provide the password in three ways:

• You will be prompted for it. This is the default: if you don’t use any of the methods below, termscp prompts for the password, like classic tools such as scp and ssh.

• -P, --password option: pass the password directly on the command line. This method is discouraged because it is insecure: the password may be kept in your shell history.

• Via sshpass: provide the password through sshpass, for example:

  sshpass -f ~/.ssh/topsecret.key termscp cvisintin@192.168.1.31