Terminator as a Linux alternative to WinSSHTerm
Updated
Our verdict
Terminator is not a direct replacement for WinSSHTerm for users who rely on integrated SFTP browsing or SSH key management. It excels as a terminal emulator with powerful pane layout and session persistence, making it ideal for advanced users who prefer managing SSH sessions via command line and use separate tools for file transfer. If you're comfortable using scp, sftp, or rsync from the terminal and handle keys with ssh-agent or ssh-add, Terminator can fit into your workflow. However, users needing GUI-based file transfers and built-in key management will find it incomplete.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 2.1.6
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports SSH session access through terminal commands
- Allows tabbed or organized interface via window and pane layout
- Offers session persistence to restore layouts after restart
- Enables keyboard shortcuts for fast navigation and workflow
- Configurable profiles for different connection types or hosts
What is different
- Terminator lacks built-in SFTP or SCP GUI file browser
- No integrated SSH key management or agent GUI
- Does not store or manage remote host connections like WinSSHTerm
- Relies on external tools for file transfer and key handling
- Focuses on terminal layout, not connection organization
Opening your WinSSHTerm files
Terminator does not import WinSSHTerm configuration files. WinSSHTerm stores connection lists and SFTP settings in XML or internal formats not recognized by Terminator. Since Terminator does not manage connections by name or host list, there's no direct way to migrate saved sessions. Users must manually extract hostnames, usernames, and ports from WinSSHTerm and recreate them as command-line SSH calls or scripts.
Switching from WinSSHTerm to Terminator, step by step
- Extract hostnames, usernames, and ports from WinSSHTerm session list
- Set up SSH config entries in ~/.ssh/config for each host
- Use ssh-agent or ssh-add to manage private keys in the background
- Launch SSH sessions manually or via scripts in Terminator panes
- Use file managers like Nautilus with SFTP or command-line scp/rsync for transfers
- Save Terminator layouts with 'terminator --save-config' for reuse
Key features of Terminator
- Multiple resizable panes in a single window
- Keyboard shortcuts for pane navigation and resizing
- Configurable profiles and color schemes
- Session persistence across restarts
- Ability to run commands in all panes simultaneously
- Customizable keybindings via a simple config file
How to install Terminator on Linux
sudo apt install terminatorsudo apt install terminatorsudo dnf install terminatorsudo pacman -S terminatorsudo zypper install terminatorFrequently asked questions
Can Terminator browse remote files like WinSSHTerm?
No. You need a separate file manager or command-line tool like scp, sftp, or an SFTP-enabled file browser such as Nautilus (via sftp://host).
How do I manage SSH keys in Terminator?
Terminator doesn’t manage keys. Use ssh-agent, ssh-add, and ~/.ssh/id_rsa or similar key files directly from the terminal.
Can I save and restore SSH sessions easily?
Terminator saves window layouts and commands, but not SSH credentials. Combine with ~/.ssh/config and saved commands for quick access.
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