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Using Melta

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Reference

First connection

When you open a computer in Melta, the phone opens an SSH connection to it, signs in with the key or password saved on the phone, and starts talking to Herdr. This page explains what you see during that first connection and how Melta checks it is talking to the same computer next time.

What you see

The line under the computer's name shows the connection state:

  • Connecting… while SSH connects.
  • Connected · loading Herdr… once SSH is up and Melta is reading Herdr's workspaces.
  • Connected · 6 panes · 2 agents (with your own counts) when everything is loaded.
  • An error message if something failed, such as a refused key or an unreachable address.

Tap that line to open the Connection Log. It lists each step with a time stamp, and has a Reconnect now button. The same log is under ⋯ › Connection Log.

Host key, trusted on first use

Every SSH server has a host key that identifies it. The first time Melta connects to an address and port, it saves the server's SHA-256 host key fingerprint on the phone, in the Keychain or Keystore. It does not ask you to confirm it. The Connection Log shows the key type and fingerprint, for example SSH connected (ssh-ed25519 SHA256:…), so you can compare it with the computer if you want to.

On every later connection, Melta compares the key the server presents with the one it saved.

If the host key changes

If the key is different, Melta closes the connection right away, without opening Herdr or a terminal on it. The status line shows Host key changed! with the expected and received fingerprints, and the computer's screen shows a Host key changed notice:

Only trust it if you reinstalled the machine or rotated its SSH host key.

Tap Trust New Key only if you know why the key changed. Melta then connects and saves the new key. If you did not reinstall the computer or change its SSH keys, do not trust it. Something may be between you and the computer. More on this in Fix SSH from your phone.

If you change the Host or Port of a computer in Edit Host, Melta forgets the saved key for the old address. The next connection to the new address is trusted on first use again.

If Herdr is not running

SSH can connect while Herdr is not running. The status line then stays at Connected · loading Herdr…, and the list shows Loading Herdr… with the reason under it, starting with Herdr:. The Connection Log has the same reason after Herdr unavailable:. Start Herdr on the computer by running herdr, then tap ⋯ › Reconnect. If you use a named Herdr session, set it in Edit Host › Herdr › Session.

On a new phone

Your list of computers comes from your Melta account, so it appears on any phone you sign in on. Keys and passwords do not: they stay on the phone that saved them. On a new phone, connecting shows No credentials saved on this device. Edit the host and add a key or password. Open Edit Host and add a key or password for that phone. See Keys and security.