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How to Recreate MobaXterm SSH Connections with OpenSSH

MobaXterm exports are backups, not native OpenSSH configuration. Rebuild SSH host entries, protect client keys, and test each connection on macOS or Linux.
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You can recreate MobaXterm SSH connections on macOS or Linux with OpenSSH, but exporting sessions does not automatically create an OpenSSH configuration file. Treat MobaXterm exports as a backup and source for rebuilding each connection; move only the client keys you need, protect them, then test each host individually.

What transfers—and what you must rebuild

MobaXterm can export session folders and can separately export broader configuration settings. Neither operation is documented as converting sessions into OpenSSH’s ~/.ssh/config format. Use the exports to preserve and inspect your settings, then create native OpenSSH entries yourself.

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This guide covers SSH client connections. MobaXterm also supports workflows such as RDP, VNC, Telnet, SFTP, tunnels, and X11 forwarding; the documented OpenSSH migration path does not provide a universal conversion for those protocols or GUI features. Inventory those sessions separately and recreate them with suitable platform-specific tools if needed.

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Back up MobaXterm sessions and settings

  1. In MobaXterm, right-click the folder containing the sessions you want to preserve and select Export sessions from this folder. The available wording can vary by version.

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  2. If you also want a broader backup, use the configuration Import/Export feature in the Settings menu. This is separate from exporting a session folder.

  3. Keep the exported files as reference material. Do not assume either export can be placed directly at ~/.ssh/config.

MobaXterm documents MobaXterm.ini as the file that stores settings and sessions, but its location depends on the edition and version: it may be in Documents for an installed edition, the program directory for a portable edition, or %AppData%MobaXterm for some versions. MobaXterm’s -i command-line option can specify the configuration path. See the MobaXterm documentation and check the details that apply to your installed version.

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Collect the SSH details and client keys

For each SSH session, record the destination hostname, username, port if it is not the default, and the client key file used for authentication. Use the session export and MobaXterm.ini as references; verify ambiguous values against your own server or administrator rather than guessing.

Back up the relevant private keys securely before moving them. Copy only client authentication keys—and any associated certificates you use—into a protected location under your user’s ~/.ssh directory. Do not put private key files in shared folders or source control. A server’s host private key is not a client login key and must not be moved as one.

Create an OpenSSH configuration on macOS or Linux

OpenSSH reads per-user client settings from ~/.ssh/config. Create that file if it does not already exist, then add one Host block for each connection. For example:

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Replace the example alias, hostname, username, port, and key path with the values from your session. Set Port only when needed; SSH’s default is 22. The Host value is a convenient alias you can use with the ssh command, while HostName identifies the actual destination.

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OpenSSH reads the user configuration before the system-wide configuration, and generally uses the first value obtained for a directive. Put specific host blocks before broader matching blocks so that a general setting does not take precedence unexpectedly. The ssh_config manual documents matching and directives such as IdentityFile.

Restrict access to keys and configuration

Private keys should be readable only by their owner. OpenSSH may ignore a private key file if its permissions allow other users to access it. On macOS or Linux, a typical permission setup is:

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chmod 700 ~/.ssh
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/work-example

Apply the key command to the actual key file you copied. Confirm that ~/.ssh/config is not writable by other users, as required by OpenSSH. The exact ownership and permission behavior can depend on the filesystem and environment; if OpenSSH rejects a key, check its error message and file permissions before changing authentication settings. See the OpenSSH ssh manual and ssh-keygen manual.

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Test connections and handle failures safely

  1. Test one entry at a time using its alias: ssh work-example.

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  2. If prompted to trust a server host key, verify the server’s identity through a trusted channel before accepting it. OpenSSH records known server host keys so it can detect changes; do not bypass that check just to make migration appear successful.

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  3. If authentication fails, check the hostname, username, port, IdentityFile path, key permissions, and whether that key is authorized for the account on the server.

  4. Once the connection works, proceed to the next SSH session and repeat. Keep the original exports and key backup until you have confirmed the connections you rely on.

Choose how to handle key authentication

For an existing setup, the most direct route is usually to retain compatible file-based client keys and reference them with IdentityFile. OpenSSH also supports authenticator-hosted key identities, including hardware-backed approaches, but compatibility depends on the client, authenticator, and server configuration. An authenticator is optional; it does not transfer MobaXterm sessions or convert existing private-key files. Verify compatibility with your server before changing authentication methods. Details are in the OpenSSH manual.

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Keep non-SSH sessions as a separate migration task

Make a separate inventory of RDP, VNC, Telnet, SFTP, tunnel, and X11 workflows in MobaXterm. The session export can help you remember what you used, but the documented OpenSSH instructions apply to SSH client connections—not one-click migration of every MobaXterm protocol or interface feature.

MobaXterm’s release history lists version 26.0 dated 2026-02-06 and notes that version 21.0 added configuration Import/Export. Because interface labels and configuration locations can vary, use the instructions matching your installed version; the MobaXterm Home Edition release history provides version context.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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