openssh/PROTOCOL.mux

This document describes the multiplexing protocol used by ssh(1)'s
ControlMaster connection-sharing.

Most messages from the client to the server contain a "request id" field.
This field is returned in replies as "client request id" to facilitate
matching of responses to requests.

1. Connection setup

When a multiplexing connection is made to a ssh(1) operating as a
ControlMaster from a ssh(1) in multiplex slave mode, the first
action of each is to exchange hello messages:

	uint32	MUX_MSG_HELLO
	uint32  protocol version
	string  extension name [optional]
	string  extension value [optional]
	...

The current version of the mux protocol is 4. A slave should refuse
to connect to a master that speaks an unsupported protocol version.
Following the version identifier are zero or more extensions
represented as a name/value pair. No extensions are currently
defined.

2. Opening sessions

To open a new multiplexed session, a client may send the following
request:

	uint32	MUX_C_MSG_NEW_SESSION
	uint32  request id
	string	reserved
	bool	want tty flag
	bool	want X11 forwarding flag
	bool	want agent flag
	bool	subsystem flag
	uint32	escape char
	string	terminal type
	string	command
	string	environment string 0 [optional]
	...

To disable the use of an escape character, "escape char" may be set
to 0xffffffff. "terminal type" is generally set to the value of
$TERM. zero or more environment strings may follow the command.

The client then sends its standard input, output and error file
descriptors (in that order) using Unix domain socket control messages.

The contents of "reserved" are currently ignored.

If successful, the server will reply with MUX_S_SESSION_OPENED

	uint32	MUX_S_SESSION_OPENED
	uint32	client request id
	uint32	session id

Otherwise it will reply with an error: MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED or
MUX_S_FAILURE.

Once the server has received the fds, it will respond with MUX_S_OK
indicating that the session is up. The client now waits for the
session to end. When it does, the server will send an exit status
message:

	uint32	MUX_S_EXIT_MESSAGE
	uint32	session id
	uint32	exit value

The client should exit with this value to mimic the behaviour of a
non-multiplexed ssh(1) connection. Two additional cases that the
client must cope with are it receiving a signal itself and the
server disconnecting without sending an exit message.

3. Health checks

The client may request a health check/PID report from a server:

	uint32	MUX_C_ALIVE_CHECK
	uint32	request id

The server replies with:

	uint32	MUX_S_ALIVE
	uint32	client request id
	uint32	server pid

4. Remotely terminating a master

A client may request that a master terminate immediately:

	uint32	MUX_C_TERMINATE
	uint32	request id

The server will reply with one of MUX_S_OK or MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED.

5. Requesting establishment of port forwards

A client may request the master to establish a port forward:

	uint32	MUX_C_OPEN_FORWARD
	uint32	request id
	uint32	forwarding type
	string	listen host
	string	listen port
	string	connect host
	string	connect port

forwarding type may be MUX_FWD_LOCAL, MUX_FWD_REMOTE, MUX_FWD_DYNAMIC.

A server may reply with a MUX_S_OK, a MUX_S_REMOTE_PORT, a
MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED or a MUX_S_FAILURE.

For dynamically allocated listen port the server replies with

	uint32	MUX_S_REMOTE_PORT
	uint32	client request id
	uint32	allocated remote listen port

5. Requesting closure of port forwards

A client may request the master to establish a port forward:

	uint32	MUX_C_OPEN_FORWARD
	uint32	request id
	uint32	forwarding type
	string	listen host
	string	listen port
	string	connect host
	string	connect port

forwarding type may be MUX_FWD_LOCAL, MUX_FWD_REMOTE, MUX_FWD_DYNAMIC.

A server may reply with a MUX_S_OK, a MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED or a
MUX_S_FAILURE.

6. Requesting stdio forwarding

A client may request the master to establish a stdio forwarding:

	uint32	MUX_C_NEW_STDIO_FWD
	uint32	request id
	string	reserved
	string	connect host
	string	connect port

The client then sends its standard input and output file descriptors
(in that order) using Unix domain socket control messages.

The contents of "reserved" are currently ignored.

A server may reply with a MUX_S_SESSION_OPEED, a MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED
or a MUX_S_FAILURE.

7. Status messages

The MUX_S_OK message is empty:

	uint32	MUX_S_OK
	uint32	client request id

The MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED and MUX_S_FAILURE include a reason:

	uint32	MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED
	uint32	client request id
	string	reason

	uint32	MUX_S_FAILURE
	uint32	client request id
	string	reason

7. Protocol numbers

#define MUX_MSG_HELLO		0x00000001
#define MUX_C_NEW_SESSION	0x10000002
#define MUX_C_ALIVE_CHECK	0x10000004
#define MUX_C_TERMINATE		0x10000005
#define MUX_C_OPEN_FORWARD	0x10000006
#define MUX_C_CLOSE_FORWARD	0x10000007
#define MUX_S_OK		0x80000001
#define MUX_S_PERMISSION_DENIED	0x80000002
#define MUX_S_FAILURE		0x80000003
#define MUX_S_EXIT_MESSAGE	0x80000004
#define MUX_S_ALIVE		0x80000005
#define MUX_S_SESSION_OPENED	0x80000006
#define MUX_S_REMOTE_PORT	0x80000007

#define MUX_FWD_LOCAL	1
#define MUX_FWD_REMOTE	2
#define MUX_FWD_DYNAMIC	3

XXX TODO
XXX extended status (e.g. report open channels / forwards)
XXX graceful close (delete listening socket, but keep existing sessions active)
XXX lock (maybe)
XXX watch in/out traffic (pre/post crypto)
XXX inject packet (what about replies)
XXX server->client error/warning notifications
XXX port0 rfwd (need custom response message)
XXX send signals via mux

$OpenBSD: PROTOCOL.mux,v 1.2 2010/05/16 12:55:51 markus Exp $