Use cases — SSH, SFTP, RDP & VNC for macOS
Windows Server administration from a Mac
RDP into desktop sessions and SSH into PowerShell — Windows Server in a single SSHive window.
Modern Windows Server (2019+) ships with OpenSSH server as an installable feature, giving you SSH-powered PowerShell sessions in addition to the classic RDP graphical experience. Mac admins managing Windows Server fleets benefit from doing both from one tool: SSH for scripted operations and quick health checks (PowerShell over SSH is fast), RDP for tasks that genuinely need the graphical session (Server Manager, IIS Manager, complex AD tooling). SSHive does both, in the same window, with profiles per host.
Enable OpenSSH on Windows Server
On Windows Server 2019/2022/2025, install the OpenSSH server feature: `Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Server~~~~0.0.1.0`. Enable the service: `Start-Service sshd; Set-Service -Name sshd -StartupType Automatic`. Add a firewall rule for port 22 if needed. Now you can SSH into the box; the default shell is `cmd`. To get PowerShell as default: `New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\OpenSSH" -Name DefaultShell -Value "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -PropertyType String -Force`.
RDP into the desktop session
Create an RDP profile in SSHive: hostname, user (in `DOMAIN\username` form for AD-joined hosts, or just `username` for local), password. Connect — the embedded RDP client opens in a tab inside SSHive. NLA is supported, clipboard syncs, keyboard shortcuts translate. For sessions across the public Internet, tunnel RDP through SSH first (Local forward 3389 → localhost:3389) and connect RDP to localhost.
Frequently asked questions
Does the embedded RDP client work with Azure AD-joined hosts?+
For Azure-AD-only joined hosts that require web-based authentication, no — use the official Microsoft Remote Desktop client. For traditional AD or local accounts (still 95% of Windows Server installs), SSHive's RDP works fine.
Does SSHive RDP support NLA (Network Level Authentication)?+
Yes — NLA-protected hosts work via the embedded freerdp-native engine. Domain-joined logins (DOMAIN\user) and local accounts both authenticate fine. For sessions across the public Internet, tunnel RDP through SSH first using SSHive's tunnel feature.
Step-by-step guides
How to RDP from a Mac to a Windows host
Embedded RDP client in macOS — no window-switching to Microsoft Remote Desktop, full keyboard mapping, encrypted via SSH if needed.
How to set up an SSH tunnel on a Mac
A complete guide to local, remote, and SOCKS5 SSH tunnels on macOS — both command-line and visually in SSHive.
Try SSHive Free for macOS
Get the all-in-one SSH, SFTP, RDP and VNC client for Mac. Free download, no signup required.