Dropbear Small SSH2 Server/Client + GUI Frontend

[clarf]

Dropbear is a relatively small SSH 2 server and client.

It runs on a variety of POSIX-based platforms. Dropbear is open source software, distributed under a MIT-style license. Dropbear is particularly useful for "embedded"-type Linux (or other Unix) systems, such as wireless routers.

In this thread I post two essentials pet files.


1. dropbear launcher:

This is my dropbear GUI frontend "dropbear Launcher", includes Server and Client GUI.

The Drobpear Server GUI includes:

- Connection settings
- Security Options
- Current Server State in tray (and stop - restart functions)
- I also added the Server key generation code to my dropbear Server launcher, it will create host identification keys if needed.

The Dropbear Client GUI includes some features like:

- Profile Administration
- Connection settings
- Security Options


2. dropbear:

I attach the clarf_dropbear-0.52-i386.pet package, I originally made this package for Puppy 214X. It was compiled as multi-binary (one binary and some symlinks) and I got a small package, after many tests...

For this package I used (of course with a pair of tricks I learned from ttuuxxx):

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./configure --build=i386-pc-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr --localstatedir=/var --sysconfdir=/etc CFLAGS="-march=i386 -Os -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections" LDFLAGS=-Wl,--gc-sections

Then,

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make PROGRAMS="dropbear dbclient dropbearkey dropbearconvert scp" MULTI=1

It has a post-installation script "pinstall.sh" to create new Server keys (this is not needed if you install my GUI package, but I added it just for users commodity.)

These packages are already included in 214X base. Also tested in Dpup 482beta3.

Any comment is welcome,

Thanks to ttuuxxx for 214X support. Special Thanks to Igulender and memeyou for the dropbear package idea.

clarf

[SirDuncan]

I have a quick question for you. Is the SSH client GUI just a front-end for the SSH command already present in Puppy (and nearly every other *nix), or does it include its own implementation? In other words, if we don't need a server, is downloading the GUI package enough?

[clarf]

I have a quick question for you. Is the SSH client GUI just a front-end for the SSH command already present in Puppy (and nearly every other *nix), or does it include its own implementation? In other words, if we don't need a server, is downloading the GUI package enough?

HI SirDuncan,

This is a front-end for dropbear Server/client, then it wrappers dropbear commands that are not compatible with SSH. Conclusion, GUI package is not enough you need additionally the dropbear package (that indeed is really small). But not additional library or dependencies are needed after dropbear package is installed.

Note: The GUI package "Dropbear Launcher" already includes the trayicon application and needed libraries that are used for Server GUI.

clarf

[BarryK]

I have just had a preliminary look at Dropbear, and some questions...

/usr/bin/ssh and /usr/bin/scp conflict with those on OpenSSH. Those in Dropbear are not compatible. There are some scripts that use ssh and maybe scp, so if Dropbear is installed, they will stop working.

OpenSSH is still going to be needed, so Dropbear cannot be considered as a replacement in Puppy, but as an alternative where a little matching server/client is needed.

However, the utilities will all have to have different names from those in OpenSSH so as not to conflict. Unlike Busybox, Dropbear cannot launch its applets by "dropbear ssh <options>", so that is out.

The only thing I can think of is that ssh and scp symlinks be placed somewhere not in the executable search path.

[clarf]

Hi BarryK,

You are right OpenSSH full replacement is not really intended... You can just drop those simlynks (ssh and scp ) or move them to other locations from dropbear package in favor of OpenSSH tools, and still have full client/server functionality (with a nice GUI) in a small package.

The only really necessary symlinks for Server/Client functionality are dbclient and dropbear files, to use my GUI frontend you need trayicon (and one library) to launch, stop and monitor Server Status.

I compiled the full multibinary set because OpenSSH tools were damaged for 214X and can`t be used anymore, but the OpenSSH libraries were keeped for compatibility/dependency reasons, dropbear in fact is a good replacement for 214X or inclusive other thin pups that dont want to use (or cannot use) ssh, ssh-agent or ssh-keygen tools. Barry you can accommodate this packages for Puppy needs..

Thinking loud, I believe that giving the right order to the PATH environment variable could solve those problems too. i.e, put /usr/bin/ before /usr/local/bin path then OpenSSH tools will be found and used first.

Greetings,
clarf