Instant SSH Access with sshforward

Sometimes you just need to let someone SSH into your machine right now — no accounts, no setup, no configuration. Maybe you're pair-programming with a colleague, helping a friend debug something, or need to give a contractor temporary access to a server.

sshforward's adhoc mode gives you instant, temporary SSH access with a single command. No registration required.

How It Works

On the machine you want to share, run:

sshforward.net adhoc

This prints a generated name like blue-forest-42. Share that name with the person who needs to connect. The session uses your system's SSH server.

If you don't have SSH installed or want a self-contained session, use embedded mode:

sshforward.net adhoc -e

This starts a built-in SSH server — no system SSH required.

2. Connect

The other person runs:

sshforward.net connect blue-forest-42

That's it. They're connected.

Docker

If you're working with containers or don't want to install anything, use the Docker image:

sudo docker run --network=host -it --rm docker.sshforward.net/client adhoc

This works the same way — prints a name, and the other party connects with sshforward.net connect <name>.

What You Get

No signup. No account, no email, no password. Just run the command and share the name.

Instant access. The connection is ready in seconds. No DNS propagation, no firewall rules, no port forwarding.

Temporary by design. Adhoc sessions last up to 2 hours and disappear automatically. Nothing persists after the session ends.

Works anywhere. Behind NAT, CGNAT, corporate firewalls — doesn't matter. The tunnel goes through HTTPS on port 443.

Common Use Cases

Remote support: Help someone troubleshoot their machine without walking them through complex setup.
Pair programming: Give a colleague SSH access to your dev environment for a working session.
Transient containers: Share access to a running container without exposing ports.
One-off access: Let a contractor or teammate into a machine for a specific task, with access that expires automatically.
Demos: Quickly show someone something running on your machine.

When to Use Adhoc vs. a Full Account

Adhoc mode is perfect for quick, temporary access. But if you need:

Permanent machine names that survive reboots
A web dashboard to monitor your machines
Access that persists longer than 2 hours
Multiple machines registered at once

Then create a free account for always-on access with no time limits.

Get Started

No installation required — just download and run:

Download sshforward and try sshforward.net adhoc right now.