You can download Top Gun SSH from the link above. Following the README file, there are nine files to install altogether, the TGssh.prc file and eight shared library .prc files. The total footprint is under 120KB.

If you're using Top Gun SSH with a Kyocera Smartphone or a keyboard, you'll want to download and install the alternate main .prc file. This fixes some issues that are detailed on the home page at the expense of greater CPU and, therefore, battery use.

Server setup
Unlike in previous articles, I won't tell you how to configure the server. I'll assume this has already been done for you by your system administrators, that you can reference the documentation at the OpenSSH site or from your server vendor, or that you have another reference like O'Reilly's SSH, The Secure Shell: The Definitive Guide (at to http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sshtdg/).

However, I will tell you the basic requirements to use the Top Gun SSH client with the OpenSSH server. First, your PDA must support TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). According to the Top Gun SSH home page, the Palm VII and the Palm i705 do not support TCP/IP and therefore cannot be used.

Second, you must have network access from your handheld to your SSH server. Personally, I'm using my PalmModem to log into my Internet Service Provider. If you need to forward the SSH traffic over a router to get it to the correct destination, perhaps through a firewall, use port 22 for TCP traffic.

Next, your server must support the SSH protocol version 1. The default behavior and setup instructions for the OpenSSH server support both version 1 and version 2 simultaneously. To verify, if you can connect with TeraTermSSH without reverting to telnet, you have version 1 support in your server. The TeraTerm icon in the left end of the window's title bar will show you whether you're using telnet or SSH, as shown below. Figure A shows the SSH icon.

FIGURE A

TeraTerm shows an icon with a key when using SSH.

Figure B shows the telnet icon.

FIGURE B

TeraTerm shows a monitor with a "VT" when using telnet.

Finally, the Top Gun SSH home page details how to get your server to recognize the handheld client's terminal type. This isn't necessary, but it will provide a more pleasant experience if you intend to use this extensively.

The SSH Client
Figure C shows the Top Gun SSH start screen on the PDA.

FIGURE C

The Top Gun SSH start screen prompts you for host and login information.

It prompts you for the host name and the usual user name and password. Enter the information and hit the Login button. It will automatically connect, if necessary.

You'll see several dialogs go by about Connecting to Host, Exchanging Keys, and the like. Once it connects, you'll see a screen like the one in Figure D.

FIGURE D

This shows the login shell on my server through Top Gun SSH.

Across the top, in the area of the image I have blurred for my own privacy's sake, it displays the host and port to which you are attached.

When you enter text, it will appear between the bold and fine lines at the bottom of the screen. When you have entered the desired commands, you hit either the Send or the SendCR buttons. The Send button sends the text without a return, good for entering partial commands. The SendCR button sends the text with a return, entering the command.