Linux – Exit All SSH Connections and Close PuTTY with One Command

exitlinuxputtysshwindows

Is there a way to back out of all SSH connections and close PuTTY in "one shot"? I work in Windows 7 and use PuTTY to SSH to various Linux hosts.

An example of the way I find myself working:

SSH to host1 with PuTTY...
banjer@host1:~> #...doin some work...ooh! need to go check something on host8...
banjer@host1:~> ssh host8
banjer@host8:~> #...doin some work...OK time for lunch. lets close putty...
banjer@host8:~> exit
banjer@host1:~> exit
Putty closes.

Per above, any way to get from host8 to closing PuTTY in one shot? Sometimes I find myself up to 5 or 10 hosts deep. I realize I can click the X to close the PuTTY window, but I like to make sure my SSH connections get closed properly by using the exit command. I also realize I'm asking for tips on how to increase laziness. I'll just write it off as "how can I be more efficient".

Best Answer

Try using the ssh connection termination escape sequence.

In the ssh session, enter ~. (tilde dot). You won't see the characters when you type them, but the session will terminate immediately.

$ ~.
$ Connection to me.myhost.com closed.

From man 1 ssh

The supported escapes (assuming the default ‘~’) are:
 ~.      Disconnect.
 ~^Z     Background ssh.
 ~#      List forwarded connections.
 ~&      Background ssh at logout when waiting for forwarded 
         connection / X11 sessions to terminate.
 ~?      Display a list of escape characters.
 ~B      Send a BREAK to the remote system (only useful for SSH protocol
         version 2 and if the peer supports it).
 ~C      Open command line.  Currently this allows the addition of port 
         forwardings using the -L, -R and -D options (see above). It also
         allows the cancellation of existing remote port-forwardings using 
         -KR[bind_address:]port.  !command allows the user to execute a 
         local command if the PermitLocalCommand option is enabled in
         ssh_config(5).  Basic help is available, using the -h option.
 ~R      Request rekeying of the connection (only useful for SSH protocol 
         version 2 and if the peer supports it).
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