cua: SSH/Telnet Connections Simplified on Linux

Managing a modern IT infrastructure involves daily interaction with dozens, if not hundreds, of servers, network devices, and IoT devices. Every day, an IT professional opens SSH, Telnet, or serial connections, remembering IP addresses, usernames, passwords, and SSH keys. This process, if managed manually or with scattered configuration files, can quickly become a bottleneck, introducing errors and slowing down operations. trycua/cua emerges as a lean and powerful solution to centralize and simplify this routine, offering an intuitive command-line interface to manage all your remote connections.

Tested on: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS · cua 0.1.0 · September 2026

Prerequisites / Test Environment

To follow this guide, you will need a Linux system (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, etc.) with terminal access. Ensure you have git installed to clone the repository and make for compilation. It’s also advisable to have a test SSH server or a Telnet/serial device to connect to for verification.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git make

1. Installing trycua/cua

Installing cua is straightforward and done directly from the source code. There are no complex dependencies, making it lightweight and easy to integrate into any environment.

Clone the GitHub repository:

git clone https://github.com/trycua/cua.git
cd cua

Compile and install:

make
sudo make install

This command will compile the cua executable and copy it to /usr/local/bin, making it system-wide available.

Verify the installation:

cua --version

You should see the installed cua version, confirming the tool is ready for use.

2. Configuring Your Hosts

The core of cua is its configuration file, typically located at ~/.cua.conf. This YAML file defines all the hosts you want to connect to, specifying protocol, address, port, user, and password (or SSH key).

Create or modify the ~/.cua.conf file with your preferred editor:

nano ~/.cua.conf

Here’s a configuration example:

hosts:
  my_web_server:
    type: ssh
    host: 192.168.1.100
    port: 22
    user: admin
    password: mysecurepassword # Warning: plaintext password!
  dev_db_server:
    type: ssh
    host: devdb.example.com
    user: rosario
    key: ~/.ssh/id_rsa # Path to the private SSH key
  legacy_router:
    type: telnet
    host: 10.0.0.1
    port: 23
    user: routeradmin
    password: routerpass
  serial_device:
    type: serial
    port: /dev/ttyUSB0
    baud: 115200
    data_bits: 8
    parity: none
    stop_bits: 1

SECURITY WARNING: Passwords are stored in plaintext in the configuration file. For production environments, the use of SSH keys with passphrases (where supported) or integration with an external password manager that cua can call (although this functionality is not native, it can be scripted) is strongly recommended. Carefully consider the risks before storing sensitive credentials.

3. Using cua to Connect

Once hosts are configured, connecting is extremely simple. Just specify the host name defined in the configuration file.

To connect to your web server:

cua my_web_server

For the development database server:

cua dev_db_server

For the legacy router:

cua legacy_router

cua will automatically start the session with the specified parameters. This drastically reduces time and the possibility of errors compared to typing ssh user@host -p port or telnet host port every time.

4. Advanced Features and Scripting

cua is designed to be simple, but it can be integrated into more complex scripts to automate repetitive operations.

Remote Command Execution (Limitations)

Currently, cua initiates an interactive session. For non-interactive command execution, it’s more efficient to use ssh directly or tools like Ansible. However, you can use expect or other scripting tools to interact with the session opened by cua if necessary.

Managing Multiple Sessions

You can open multiple terminals and connect to different hosts simultaneously, each with its predefined configuration.

Common Errors and Troubleshooting

cua: command not found: Ensure that /usr/local/bin is in your PATH and that sudo make install was executed correctly. Restart your terminal after installation.
Error reading config file: Check the YAML syntax in the ~/.cua.conf file. Indentation or formatting errors are common. Use an online YAML linter to validate the file.
Connection refused or Timeout: Verify that the host is reachable (e.g., with ping), that the service (SSH/Telnet) is listening on the specified port, and that no firewalls are blocking the connection. Also, check that credentials (user, password, key) are correct.
Issues with SSH keys: Ensure the path to the private key is correct and that permissions are 600 (chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_rsa).

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to store plaintext passwords with cua?

No, it is not safe. Storing plaintext passwords in any file is a discouraged practice, especially in multi-user or sensitive environments. For production environments, using SSH keys protected by passphrases and SSH agents, or integration with external credential management systems, is highly recommended. cua is better suited for development/test environments or for connections that do not require highly sensitive credentials.

Can I use cua to connect to Windows servers?

If the Windows server exposes an SSH service (e.g., via OpenSSH for Windows) or Telnet, then yes. cua connects to the protocol, not the underlying operating system. For RDP or WinRM sessions, cua is not the appropriate tool.

Can I specify advanced SSH options (e.g., ProxyJump)?

Currently, cua has a limited set of options and does not directly support advanced SSH features like ProxyJump or LocalForward. For these needs, you will need to continue using the native ssh client or configure your ~/.ssh/config and then call ssh directly.

How can I update cua to a new version?

To update cua, navigate to the directory where you cloned the repository (cd ~/cua), run git pull to download the latest changes, and then make clean && make && sudo make install to recompile and reinstall the new version.

Is there a graphical interface for cua?

No, cua is a pure command-line tool, designed to be lightweight and fast. There is no official or third-party graphical interface at this time.

Conclusions with Operational Takeaways

trycua/cua is a simple yet effective tool that solves a common problem for many IT professionals: the disorganized management of remote connections. While it’s not a complete solution for enterprise security credential management, its ability to centralize and quickly launch SSH, Telnet, and serial sessions makes it a valuable ally for sysadmins, network engineers, and developers who interact daily with multiple systems. Its lightweight nature and ease of use make it ideal for integration into daily workflows, saving valuable time and reducing the possibility of errors. Read also: UFW Firewall Ubuntu: Complete Configuration from A to Z (2026)

Sources

trycua/cua GitHub Repository

Updated: September 2026