Look, I'm not proud to ask this - I'm a linux guy and by default think I know everything, so I come to humbly ask the Windows Wizards if I can utilize something like Open SSH to establish a secure shell session with Windows Servers. RDP is ok, but I like command line action, so to cut out the middle man (GUI) can I just SSH off a powershell command prompt and do my systems magic?
In other words, is there a way to remotely administer Windows servers using a command prompt or powershell session?
Sure, you can install OpenSSH on your Windows Server.
From there, you can connect with SSH as per usual from Linux, or work from another Windows machine using just Powershell or PuTTY.
Thanks @DarkAnHell - I'll check the services on the servers next time I'm at work to see if they already have those running. If not, I'll see if I can't get approval for it to be installed.
Hold up a sec, if I establish a secure shell between a Windows Server and Linux box, what shell do I get - PS, CMD???
PSS - F! If I install OpenSSH I have to restart the box?!? Is there a native secure shell client?
You'll get CMD, though you can get yourself a Powershell session if needed.
You shouldn't need to restart, though you know Windows... It may whine about it.
There aren't any 'native' clients, but both links i gave you about PS and PuTTY are probably enough for the client side of things
I don't mind restarting my local machine, I'm just not really pumped about restarting the server. Sorry if you've answered this, but is there a native SSH service installed on Windows Servers?
Also lookup PowerShell Remoting, it might give you what you need.
You don't have to restart the local machine (client), but you may have to restart the server. As i said, it shouldn't be necessary but Windows tends to whine about not rebooting after installing something.
As for SSH services (you said clients before (: ) there aren't any native solutions that I know about, but there are plenty of third parties providing it: OpenSSH, SSHD (Oracle), FreeSSHD...