# Install zssh with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman Interactive file transfers over SSH. Version 1.5c via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:zssh ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install zssh ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install zssh ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: comms/zssh/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install zssh ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: zssh from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install zssh ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: zssh from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#zssh ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/zs/zssh/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S zssh ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: zssh from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:zssh - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.5c - **Source summary:** Interactive file transfers over SSH - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - zssh (cli) - ztelnet (cli) - zssh (alias) - ztelnet (alias) ## Dependencies - lrzsz ## Build dependencies - autoconf - automake - libtool ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.5c - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://zssh.sourceforge.net/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage zssh is a SourceForge-era terminal utility that wraps an interactive SSH session with ZMODEM file-transfer support. Its companion command, ztelnet, applies the same idea to telnet. ### Project history The project was registered on SourceForge on 2000-06-27 and is credited on the homepage to Matthieu Lucotte. Its public homepage and SourceForge page describe zssh as Zmodem SSH: a way to transfer files to or from a remote machine while staying inside an already-authenticated secure shell session. zssh's design reflects an older Unix remote-login workflow. Instead of opening a second terminal and running scp, it inserts a tty/pty layer between the user and local ssh process, then switches that channel between normal shell mode and local file-transfer commands after an escape sequence. ### Adoption history zssh never became a replacement for scp, sftp, or rsync, but it remained packaged because it solved a specific interactive problem: moving files during a live remote shell session when re-authentication or another connection was inconvenient. Its continued presence in package systems is a classic preservation case for small Unix tools: the upstream release is old, the protocol it depends on is older still, but a narrow workflow still exists for users who know exactly why they want ZMODEM over an SSH terminal. ### How it is used A user starts zssh much like ssh. During the remote shell session, pressing the configured escape sequence opens zssh's local prompt, where builtins such as rz and sz hook local transfer programs into the SSH channel. The FAQ emphasizes that ssh, sz, and rz must be available, with rz/sz required on both local and remote machines. The practical failure modes are terminal-oriented: escape-key conflicts, non-8-bit-clean pty chains, incompatible rz/sz versions, and programs such as remote screen sessions interfering with the transparent channel. ### Why package nerds care zssh matters to package nerds as a fossil of a transitional era between dial-up/BBS-style ZMODEM habits and modern encrypted remote administration. It packages an old terminal file-transfer protocol as a composable Unix wrapper around ssh. It is also a reminder that packaging sometimes preserves workflows rather than fashionable software: a tiny C program, readline-style local prompt, and external rz/sz dependency can remain useful long after the upstream website stops looking modern. ### Timeline - 2000-06-27: zssh project registered on SourceForge. - 2003-09-24: zssh 1.5c listed as the latest release on the project homepage. - 2013-03-21: SourceForge project page records the last project update. ### Related projects - Related tools and protocols include OpenSSH, telnet, scp, sftp, rsync, lrzsz, rz, sz, and the ZMODEM protocol. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** zssh - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - zssh - 1.5c.debian.1-10+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: zssh from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | interactive file transfers over ssh | https://zssh.sourceforge.net/ - Nix - zssh: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/zs/zssh/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - zssh - 1.5c.debian.1-10build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: zssh from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | interactive file transfers over ssh | https://zssh.sourceforge.net/ - dnf - zssh - 1.5c-21.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: zssh from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | SSH and Telnet client with ZMODEM file transfer capability | http://zssh.sourceforge.net/ - pacman - zssh - 1.5c-15: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: zssh from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | SSH and Telnet client with ZMODEM file transfer capability | http://zssh.sourceforge.net/ - MacPorts - zssh: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: comms/zssh/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [lrzsz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lrzsz/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [trzsz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/trzsz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking, ssh, terminal. - [trzsz-go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/trzsz-go/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking, ssh, terminal. - [trzsz-ssh](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/trzsz-ssh/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking, ssh, terminal. - [wush](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wush/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking, ssh. - [airshare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airshare/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. - [bbftp-client](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bbftp-client/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. - [croc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/croc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/zssh.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/zssh.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph