Pgcli SSH Access Proxy
The command waits in your terminal, cursor blinking. You need to connect to a remote PostgreSQL database through an SSH proxy, but you want speed, consistency, and zero guesswork. Pgcli with SSH access proxy delivers exactly that. It cuts through complex tunnels and scattered configuration, giving you an interactive shell with autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and direct control over your queries.
What is Pgcli SSH Access Proxy?
Pgcli is a command-line interface for PostgreSQL that supports features like query suggestions, formatting, and rich output. Using Pgcli with an SSH access proxy means you connect securely to a database that isn’t exposed to the public internet. Instead of juggling separate SSH sessions and manual port forwarding, the proxy handles encryption, authentication, and routing in one step.
Why use it?
- Secure access to databases behind firewalls or VPCs.
- Faster connection setup using a single command.
- Reduced complexity by replacing manual
ssh -Lorssh -Nroutines. - Better visibility with Pgcli’s enhanced prompt and editable multi-line queries.
Configuration Steps
- Set up SSH key-based authentication to your proxy host.
Open Pgcli through the proxy:
pgcli -h db.internal -p 5432 -U dbuser --ssh-proxy db-proxy
Some setups use ProxyCommand or ProxyJump in ~/.ssh/config to route Pgcli seamlessly.
Create or verify your SSH access proxy configuration:
Host db-proxy
HostName proxy.example.com
User youruser
Port 22
Install Pgcli:
pip install pgcli
Performance Notes
Pgcli’s SSH access proxy avoids repeated overhead from manual port forwarding. It uses efficient TCP streams over SSH with minimal packet loss. When tuned with proper ServerAliveInterval SSH settings, connections remain stable over long-running sessions.
Best Practices
- Restrict your proxy host’s access only to required networks.
- Keep PostgreSQL server logs enabled to audit queries.
- Store credentials securely using environment variables or a
.pgpassfile. - Monitor latency with
\timinginside Pgcli to verify performance.
Conclusion
Pgcli SSH access proxy removes the friction between you and your database. Combine secure tunneling with an advanced shell to manage production or staging systems without wasted steps or risks. Try it in minutes with hoop.dev — set up your SSH access proxy, run Pgcli, and see it live at full speed.