SSH Access & Remote Development

Connect to your Thox.ai device remotely for development, debugging, and advanced configuration.

Back to Articles

SSH access allows you to connect directly to your Thox.ai device for advanced configuration, debugging, and remote development. The device runs a lightweight Linux environment with full shell access.

Connecting via SSH

Basic Connection

Connect using the default hostname or IP address:

bash
# Using mDNS hostname
ssh thox@thox.local

# Using IP address (find via router or web interface)
ssh thox@192.168.1.100

Default Credentials

Default password is thox. Change this immediately after first login for security.

Username:thox
Password:thox

SSH Key Authentication

Set up SSH keys for secure, passwordless authentication:

1

Generate an SSH key (if you don't have one)

bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"
2

Copy your public key to the device

bash
ssh-copy-id thox@thox.local

# Or manually:
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub | ssh thox@thox.local "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"
3

Test the connection

bash
ssh thox@thox.local
# Should connect without password prompt

SSH Config for Easy Access

Add this to ~/.ssh/config for easier connections:

text
Host thox
    HostName thox.local
    User thox
    Port 22
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
    ForwardAgent yes

# Now you can simply run:
# ssh thox

Port Forwarding for Remote API Access

Forward the API port to access Thox.ai from outside your local network:

Local Port Forwarding

Access the Thox.ai API on your local machine:

bash
# Forward remote port 8080 to local port 8080
ssh -L 8080:localhost:8080 thox@thox.local

# Now access the API at http://localhost:8080

Persistent Tunnel with autossh

Keep the tunnel alive automatically:

bash
# Install autossh (macOS: brew install autossh)
autossh -M 0 -f -N -L 8080:localhost:8080 thox@thox.local

Remote Development with VS Code

Use VS Code Remote SSH for a full development experience:

Install Remote - SSH Extension

Search for "Remote - SSH" in the VS Code extensions marketplace

Connect to Host

Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P, type "Remote-SSH: Connect to Host", enter thox@thox.local

Open Workspace

Browse files and edit directly on the device with full IntelliSense

Security Recommendations

Change the default password

Run passwd after first login to set a strong password.

Use SSH key authentication

Disable password authentication after setting up SSH keys for enhanced security.

Keep your network secure

Only expose SSH via port forwarding when necessary. Keep your device on a trusted network.

Avoid exposing SSH to the internet

If remote access is needed, use a VPN or SSH jump host rather than direct internet exposure.

Useful Commands

thox statusCheck service status
thox logs -fFollow real-time logs
htopMonitor resource usage
df -hCheck disk space
sudo rebootRestart the device

Related Articles

CLI Command Reference

All available CLI commands

OpenAI-Compatible API

Use existing SDKs with Thox.ai

Connection issues?

Check our troubleshooting guide or contact support if you're having trouble connecting.

Network TroubleshootingContact Support