Custom Build MidpSSH for Blackberries
 

I've done my custom build of MidpSSH that is intended to work on blackberries.
All props go to Karl @ XK72 for providing this open source project. I'll continue to work on it to see if I can change some display settings (ie fonts).

Heres what I added apart from his latest released src (1.7.3)

* BIS-B support (depends on carrier on which ports you might be able to work, IE on mine they block port 22, but I just changed my sshd port of linux box to a higher port,). When configuring the host, just add :PORT (so it would be IP.OF.SERVER:PORT
* WIFI support
* Application is signed in order to gain access to some RIM protected APIs

Heres the OTA link for it

Latest: 1.7.4 beta2
http://ota.deltatech.com.mx/

Sweet, thanks! I'll check it out soon.

Great! Post feedbacks once you tried it.. I just tested it on my Bold.. not quite sure how it will work on other devices

Quick 5 second feedback:

OK:
- works on 8320 w/ 4.5.0.81 (only tried TCP so far)

Oops:

- doesn't upgrade 1.7.3, installs alongside it; it appears 1.7.3 uses "midpssh2" as the module name and you're using "midpssh" -- this causes it not to upgrade, and any previous settings are not carried over (to my knowledge the RMS store is based on the specific module name)

- when entering a new session config, the Caps is on for the first letter; this should not be (even though it's normal for BB in general) since your hostname and username are 99.9% of the time lowercase

- it's 2008, SSH2 should be the default not SSH1 :)

I'd love if somehow we could now put a private RSA/DSA key on the device and use ssh keys for logging in.... one for the feature list.

A minor UI enhancement would be to get rid of the menu that pops up when you click on things with the trackball and go directly to the Select action. (i.e. Sessions -> menu -> select -> (session) -> menu -> select). What a royal pain - the click of trackball should always do the usual Select action like most BB apps, if the user wants a menu they click the Menu key.

Thanks!

Well basiclly I didnt touch most of the code for now.. I just wanted to first get the networking part working, via all possible methods/way of connecting... and the TCP method is exactly the same as Karl had (via APN). The current UI implementation was designed for all cell phones.

But I'll see what I can do for the other improvements you mentioned. The hardest one I see is the one to make it log on using ssh keys, since I would have to see first how ssh works and see if the classes that karl has on his code supports it, if not it will be a bit difficult for me to add a feature like that (i just started developing bberry apps :P)

sweet
I have an 8100 on T-mobile Bis and it worked. I need a magnifying glass to read the remote screen. My eyes are bad enough. However this has wonderful potential.
First pass it turned the first letter of my login caps. Although it did connect and was properly refused.

Any hope of adjusting screen size of remote connection?

I just compiled a newer version that has a bit bigger font. I know its still a bit small, but else it will break the terminal use (some app requires like >50 columns to display (like 'w'ho)

http://ota.deltatech.com.mx/

I'll try to now make improvements on the GUI deparment

Thank you! I was hoping someone would update midpssh, I was originally looking to purchase from Rove, but with their descions lately is nice to see a freeware alternative updated.

Is there a debug/log ? I am trying to connect to my internal Cisco routers using SSH2, and keep getting disconnected right after I connect.

Heres a newer build.. now it lets you choose between the size of the LCD font size, and menus are a bit better..

Please consider this as its still a work in progress to tweak it for our berries :smile:

http://www.deltatech.com.mx/midpssh/...ssh-bb-ota.jad

Try the the beta2 I just posted.. let me know if you still have issues...

hum. i'm not quite sure what this is, anyone care to explain?

This is a free SSH/telnet client.. mainly used to connect to linux boxes/routers. The build offered by midpssh directly doesnt support wifi neither bisb, which the build I did offers (a great plus since some ppl just have access to bisb service and not thru APN).

Wirelessly posted

Is there a way to enable Multitap with this application?

It works fine on my Berry with BIS-B. I am impressed. :razz:

Like rivviepop, I hate these annoying menus. Also the caps get in the way a little.

But unlike him, I don't want to put RSA/DSA keys on the device. We can save the password in the profile section, isn't that enough? Besides, key files could be copied to other machines. That's even more insecure than a saved password. In fact, I didn't save my password. Security is the whole point of SSH.

Great job! 8-)

Actually, it's not the same as a saved password when you think it through. A key on a device still must be unlocked with a passphrase, so in the event of a physical breech (device is stolen) you have 3 scenarios: no password saved or key (safest), a key still requiring a passphrase (next safest), and a password saved into device memory (least safe). By necessity the ability to somehow decrypt the password within the software must be present, as the password must be sent to the remote server at connection time. Even if you were able to encrypt the password with the same level of encryption as a keyfile, you necessarily would have to leave the means to decrypt it inside. Unless of course you built in a password to the software to unlock the password(s) (a possiblity for sure!).

Having a private keypart on a device is more secure than having a password saved in the application, but of course saving neither one of the two is the most secure from the device side standpoint in case of a physical attack. As you can imagine I don't save any passwords on the device. :)

Works even with BOld?

Actually my test unit is a Bold :) So expect it to work on it...

Just installed it on my 8800.
Works like a charm.

Now just need to figure out why I'm on BES but don't have access into my work network - then I can do my job from my BB. :)

I installed the "beta 2" build on my 8330, and I am also having issues connecting to a Cisco device. Here is what the Cisco's log is telling me:

I was reading somewhere that this issue may have something to do with needing to use an RSA key instead of a DSA key... I haven't found a way to make it connect yet.

On a side note, I'd love to be able to import a private key from putty or something. Most of our SSH2-enabled devices require me to use my private key. This one happens to not require a key, but it doesn't like the client. Just my luck. :)