Portable use of Bitvise SSH Client

Bitvise SSH Client supports command-line parameters that control how it uses the Windows registry (the -noRegistry and -baseRegistry parameters). This can be used to limit the SSH Client's interactions with the Windows registry.

The SSH Client supports storing host key information and client authentication keypairs in an SSH Client profile. This means that you can copy the contents of the SSH Client installation directory to a USB key, insert the USB key into another computer, and run the graphical SSH Client as follows:

BvSsh -noRegistry -profile=U:\Profile.tlp

This will tell the Client to not use the Windows registry, and to connect exclusively using the host and keypair information you have saved into Profile.tlp.

For more information about the supported command line parameters, run the graphical SSH Client as follows:

BvSsh -?

Bitvise SSH Client further includes command line clients – sftpc, sexec, stermc, and stnlc – which also support the -noRegistry and -profile parameters. These command line clients are frequently used unattended, but can also be used interactively. For more information, check Using Bitvise SSH Client Unattended.

Extracting files from the SSH Client installer

Portable users may wish to extract SSH Client files without performing a full installation. The SSH Client installer supports this using command-line parameters. The following will extract installer contents into the current directory, targeting the machine type of the current Windows installation:

BvSshClient-Inst.exe -extract=y -installdir=.

The -acceptEula parameter is also necessary. It is not included in the example for copy & paste because entering it needs to be a conscious action.

Even though the installer does not perform installation tasks when using -extract=y, the installer still has an application manifest which requires it to be run from an administrative, elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window.

For help with other command-line parameters supported by the installer, run:

BvSshClient-Inst.exe -?