---
name: "Smokeping::probes::SSH"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "smokeping"
version: "2.3.6-5+squeeze1"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Smokeping::probes::SSH"
---

# Smokeping::probes::SSH(3)

Secure Shell Probe for SmokePing

## NAME

Smokeping::probes::SSH - Secure Shell Probe for SmokePing

## SYNOPSIS

```
 *** Probes ***
 +SSH
 binary = /usr/bin/ssh-keyscan # mandatory
 forks = 5
 offset = 50%
 step = 300
 timeout = 15
 # The following variables can be overridden in each target section
 keytype = dsa
 pings = 5
 port = 5000
 # [...]
 *** Targets ***
 probe = SSH # if this should be the default probe
 # [...]
 + mytarget
 # probe = SSH # if the default probe is something else
 host = my.host
 keytype = dsa
 pings = 5
 port = 5000
```

## DESCRIPTION

Integrates ssh-keyscan as a probe into smokeping. The variable **binary** must point to your copy of the ssh-keyscan program. If it is not installed on your system yet, you should install openssh \>= 3.8p1

The Probe asks the given host n-times for it's public key, where n is the amount specified in the config File.

As part of the initialization, the probe asks localhost for it's public key and tries to parse the output. Make sure you have SSH running on the localhost as well.

## VARIABLES

Supported probe-specific variables:

- binary

  The location of your ssh-keyscan binary.

  Example value: /usr/bin/ssh-keyscan

  This setting is mandatory.

- forks

  Run this many concurrent processes at maximum

  Example value: 5

  Default value: 5

- offset

  If you run many probes concurrently you may want to prevent them from hitting your network all at the same time. Using the probe-specific offset parameter you can change the point in time when each probe will be run. Offset is specified in % of total interval, or alternatively as 'random', and the offset from the 'General' section is used if nothing is specified here. Note that this does NOT influence the rrds itself, it is just a matter of when data acqusition is initiated. (This variable is only applicable if the variable 'concurrentprobes' is set in the 'General' section.)

  Example value: 50%

- step

  Duration of the base interval that this probe should use, if different from the one specified in the 'Database' section. Note that the step in the RRD files is fixed when they are originally generated, and if you change the step parameter afterwards, you'll have to delete the old RRD files or somehow convert them. (This variable is only applicable if the variable 'concurrentprobes' is set in the 'General' section.)

  Example value: 300

- timeout

  How long a single 'ping' takes at maximum

  Example value: 15

  Default value: 5

Supported target-specific variables:

- keytype

  Type of key, used in ssh-keyscan -t *keytype*

  Example value: dsa

  Default value: rsa

- pings

  How many pings should be sent to each target, if different from the global value specified in the Database section. Note that the number of pings in the RRD files is fixed when they are originally generated, and if you change this parameter afterwards, you'll have to delete the old RRD files or somehow convert them.

  Example value: 5

- port

  Port to use when testing the ssh connection -p *port*

  Example value: 5000

  Default value: 22

## AUTHORS

Christian Recktenwald \<smokeping-contact@citecs.de\>