i2cssh

i2cssh is a csshX (http://code.google.com/p/csshx/) like tool for connecting over ssh to multiple machines. But instead of creating separate windows and having a master window for input, i2cssh uses iterm2 split panes and "Send input to all sessions" (cmd-shift-i) to send commands to all sessions.

Installing

When using iTerm2 < 2.9, install i2cssh version 1.16.0:

$ gem install i2cssh -v 1.16.0

Otherwise, just run:

$ gem install i2cssh

Usage

Usage: i2cssh [options] [(username@host [username@host] | username@cluster)]
-c, --clusters clus1,clus2       Comma-separated list of clusters specified in ~/.i2csshrc
-m, --machines a,b,c             Comma-separated list of hosts
-f, --file FILE                  Cluster file (one hostname per line)
-t, --tab-split                  Split servers/clusters into tabs (group arguments)
-T, --tab-split-nogroup          Split servers/clusters into tabs (don't group arguments)
-A, --forward-agent              Enable SSH agent forwarding
-l, --login LOGIN                SSH login name
-e, --environment KEY=VAL        Send environment vars (comma-separated list, need to start with LC_)
-r, --rank                       Send LC_RANK with the host number as environment variable
-F, --fullscreen                 Make the window fullscreen
-C, --columns COLUMNS            Number of columns (rows will be calculated)
-R, --rows ROWS                  Number of rows (columns will be calculated)
-b, --broadcast                  Start with broadcast input (DANGEROUS!)
-nb, --nobroadcast               Disable broadcast
-p, --profile PROFILE            Name of the iTerm2 profile (default: Default)
-2, --iterm2                     Use iTerm2 instead of iTerm
-i, --itermname NAME             Name of the application to use (default: iTerm)
-s, --sleep SLEEP                Number of seconds to sleep between creating SSH sessions
-d, --direction DIRECTION        Direction that new sessions are created (default: column)
-X, --extra EXTRA_PARAM          Additional ssh parameters (e.g. -Xi=myidentity.pem)

i2cssh will assume you want to connect to a cluster when only one host is given.

For -c and -m options, the format username@cluster or username@host can be used.

The following commands are exactly the same, however, they might serve different purposes:

$ i2cssh -m user1@host1,user2@host2
$ i2cssh user1@host1 user2@host2

You can combine these options and use them multiple times:

$ i2cssh -m user1@host1,user2@host2 -m user3@host3 user4@host4 user5@host5

Using the -l option will override all usernames:

$ i2cssh -l foo user1@host1 user2@host2

This will connect to both host1 and host2 as the user foo

i2csshrc

The i2csshrc file is a YAML formatted file that contains the following structure:

---
version: 2
[optional parameters]
clusters:
  mycluster:
    [optional parameters]
    hosts:
      - host1
      - host2

Optional parameters can be used globally or per cluster and include:

broadcast: (true/false)     # Enable/disable broadcast on start
login: <username>           # Use this username for login
profile: <iTerm2 profile>   # Use this iTerm profile
rank: (true/false)          # Enable sending LC_RANK as an environment variable
columns: <cols>             # Amount of columns
rows: <rows>                # Amount of rows
sleep: <secs>               # Seconds to sleep between creating SSH sessions
direction: (column/row)     # Direction that new sessions are created (default: column)
itermname:                  # iTerm app name (default: iTerm)

environment:                # Send the following enviroment variables
    - LC_FOO: foo
    - LC_BAR: bar

iterm2: true                # Use iTerm2.app instead of iTerm.app (only available globally)

Note: rows and columns can't be used together.

The following precedence is used:

global options from config < cluster options from config < command line flags

Make sure the config file is valid YAML (e.g. use spaces instead of tabs)

Options

-A, --forward-agent

Enable SSH agent forwarding

-l, --login LOGIN

This option will override all logins passed in to i2cssh. This goes for global config, cluster config or username@host passed on the command line

-e, --environment KEY=VAL

Allows for passing environment varables to the SSH session. This can be a comma-separated list: -e LC_FOO=foo,LC_BAR=bar

-F, --fullscreen

Enable fullscreen on startup

-C, --columns COLUMNS

Set the amount of columns. Can't be used in conjunction with -R

-R, --rows ROWS

Set the amount of columns. Can't be used in conjunction with -C

-b, --broadcast

Enable broadcast on startup. i2cssh will send cmd-shift-i to the window and press the OK button.

-nb, --nobroadcast

Disable broadcast. This setting can be used to disable any broadcast that was set in the config.

-p, --profile PROFILE

Use a specific iTerm profile

-2, --iterm2

Use iTerm2.app instead of iTerm.app

-i, --itermname NAME

Name of the application to use (default: iTerm). It happens sometimes iTerm isn't called iTerm. Use this parameter to override what app i2cssh interacts with.

-f, --file

Will read nodes from a file. These will be added to any hosts specified on the command line or in the config

-c, --clusters clus1,clus2

Connect to one or more clusters that are specified in the config

-r, --rank

Send a LC_RANK environment variable different for each host (from 0 to n)

-m, --machines a,b,c

Connect to the machines a, b and c

-t, --tab-split

Split servers/clusters into tabs, grouping arguments. Tabs are created as follows: hosts after a -m option are put in one tab, each cluster is always in its own tab, all the arguments are in one tab.

-T, --tab-split-nogroup

Split servers/clusters into tabs, not grouping arguments. Tabs are created as follows: hosts after a -m option are put in one tab, each cluster is always in its own tab, each argument is in its own tab.

-s, --sleep SLEEP

Wait SLEEP seconds between starting each ssh session. This will take decimals as well (0.5 for half a second)

-X, --extra EXTRA

Set extra ssh parameters in the form -Xk=v. For example:

i2cssh -Xi=myidentity.pem

will result in

ssh -i myidentity.pem

Or,

i2cssh -Xp=2222 -XL=8080:localhost:8080