0.5. Which Chapters Are for You?

We propose several "tracks" for readers with different interests and skills:

System administrators

Chapter 3, "Inside SSH"-Chapter 5, "Serverwide Configuration" and Chapter 10, "A Recommended Setup" are the most important for understanding SSH and how to build and configure servers. However, as the administrator of a security product, you should read the whole book.

Unix users (not system administrators)

Chapter 1, "Introduction to SSH"-Chapter 2, "Basic Client Use" provide an overview, and Chapter 6, "Key Management and Agents" through Chapter 9, "Port Forwarding and X Forwarding" discuss SSH clients in depth.

Windows end users

Read Chapter 1, "Introduction to SSH", Chapter 2, "Basic Client Use", and Chapter 13, "Overview of Other Implementations" through Chapter 16, "F-Secure SSH Client (Windows, Macintosh)", for starters, and then others as your interests guide you.

Macintosh end users

Read Chapter 1, "Introduction to SSH", Chapter 2, "Basic Client Use", Chapter 13, "Overview of Other Implementations", Chapter 16, "F-Secure SSH Client (Windows, Macintosh)", and Chapter 17, "NiftyTelnet SSH (Macintosh)", for starters, and then others as your interests guide you.

Users of other computer platforms

Read Chapter 1, "Introduction to SSH", Chapter 2, "Basic Client Use", and Chapter 13, "Overview of Other Implementations", for starters, and then others as your interests guide you.

Even if you are experienced with SSH, you will likely find value in Chapter 3, "Inside SSH"-Chapter 12, "Troubleshooting and FAQ". We cover significant details the Unix manpages leave unclear or unmentioned, including major concepts, compile-time flags, server configuration, and forwarding.

---