Browser Terminal

Hanzo Platform includes a browser-based terminal that lets you SSH into any managed VM without installing an SSH client or exposing port 22 to the public internet.

Architecture

The terminal is powered by Apache Guacamole, providing a secure WebSocket bridge between your browser and the VM:

Browser (WebSocket) --> Platform Gateway --> Guacamole --> SSH --> VM

No client software required -- works in any modern browser

No public SSH port needed -- the gateway connects over the private network

Session recording -- terminal sessions can be recorded for audit

Clipboard support -- copy/paste between your local machine and the remote terminal

Opening a Terminal Session

Navigate to the VM

Go to Virtual Machines and click the VM you want to access.

Click Terminal

On the VM detail page, click the Terminal tab. A new terminal session opens in your browser.

Authenticate

The terminal connects using the SSH key associated with the VM. No password prompt is needed if key-based auth is configured.

The terminal opens as the default user for the OS image (e.g., ubuntu for Ubuntu, root for Debian/Hetzner).

SSH Key Management

Hanzo Platform maintains a centralized SSH keyring. Keys are synced to VMs at creation time and can be updated on running instances.

Adding a Key

Go to SSH Keys

Navigate to Settings > SSH Keys > Add Key.

Paste Your Public Key

# Copy your public key
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Paste the contents and give it a name (e.g., work-laptop).

Save

The key is stored in your account and available when creating new VMs.

Generating a New Key Pair

If you don't have an SSH key:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"

Never share your private key. Only upload the .pub file to Hanzo Platform.

Updating Keys on Running VMs

To add or remove keys on an existing VM:

Go to VM Details > SSH Keys

Add or remove keys from the list

Click Sync Keys

The platform updates ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the VM via the Guacamole connection.

Terminal Features

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl+Shift+C`	Copy selection
`Ctrl+Shift+V`	Paste from clipboard
`Ctrl+Shift+F`	Toggle fullscreen
`Ctrl+Shift+R`	Reconnect session

Verify the VM is in Running state
Check that the VM's security group/firewall allows SSH from the platform gateway
Try restarting the VM from the dashboard

Confirm the correct SSH key is assigned to the VM
Click Sync Keys on the VM detail page to re-push keys
Check /var/log/auth.log on the VM if you have alternate access

Press Enter to wake the terminal
Try Ctrl+Shift+R to reconnect
Clear browser cache and reload the page

Latency

The terminal streams over WebSocket. For best performance:

Use a wired connection or stable Wi-Fi

Choose a VM region close to your location

Avoid running the terminal through a VPN if possible