Managing Linux servers often involves a collection of commands, scripts, and configuration files spread across multiple tools. While each tool serves its purpose, switching between them can slow down routine administration tasks.
HostnExtra CLI was created to bring these everyday operations together into a single, extensible command-line toolkit. Built with TypeScript and designed around a plugin architecture, it helps system administrators, DevOps engineers, developers, and hosting providers manage infrastructure more efficiently from the terminal.
GitHub Repository: https://github.com/hostnextra/cli
Why We Built HostnExtra CLI
At HostnExtra, we work with Linux servers every day. Whether we're deploying new infrastructure, managing SSH access, monitoring server health, or creating secure tunnels, we rely heavily on the command line.
Over time, we noticed that many administrative tasks followed the same workflow:
- Configure SSH connections
- Verify server health
- Access internal services securely
- Organize server configurations
- Perform routine maintenance
Instead of creating isolated utilities for each task, we built a modular CLI that brings them together under one consistent interface.
Our goal is simple:
Build an open source toolkit that makes Linux server management faster, cleaner, and more organized.
Built Around Plugins
HostnExtra CLI uses a plugin-based architecture. Each plugin focuses on a specific area of server administration while maintaining a consistent user experience across the entire CLI.
This design allows the project to grow naturally while keeping commands easy to discover and use.
Current plugins include:
- SSH Configuration Management
- Server Monitoring
- Secure SSH Tunnels
More plugins are already planned for future releases.
SSH Configuration Management
Managing SSH configurations manually works well for a few servers, but as infrastructure grows, keeping everything organized becomes increasingly important.
The SSH plugin simplifies common operations such as:
- Creating new SSH hosts
- Editing existing configurations
- Listing saved hosts
- Testing SSH connections
- Connecting directly from the CLI
- Importing and exporting configurations
Instead of manually editing ~/.ssh/config, the CLI provides a structured workflow for managing server access.
Example:
hostnextra ssh add
hostnextra ssh list
hostnextra ssh connect production-server
Server Monitoring
Understanding the health of a server should be quick and straightforward.
The Monitor plugin collects important system information and presents it in a clean, easy-to-read report.
It analyzes areas such as:
- CPU usage
- Memory utilization
- Swap usage
- Disk usage
- Operating system information
- Overall server health
This makes it useful for routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and verifying server performance after deployments.
Example:
hostnextra monitor
Within seconds, you receive a comprehensive overview of your server's current state.
Secure SSH Tunnels
SSH tunneling is one of the most useful tools available to Linux administrators. It enables secure access to services running on remote machines without exposing them publicly.
The Tunnel plugin simplifies the process of creating and managing SSH tunnels.
Example:
hostnextra tunnel open \
--from web-prod-01:3306 \
--to localhost:3306
Once the tunnel is no longer needed:
hostnextra tunnel close
The plugin manages the tunnel lifecycle, making it easy to open, monitor, and close secure connections.
Designed for Developers and System Administrators
HostnExtra CLI is suitable for anyone who works with Linux infrastructure, including:
- System Administrators
- DevOps Engineers
- Backend Developers
- Hosting Providers
- Platform Engineers
- Home Lab Enthusiasts
Whether you're managing one server or an entire fleet, the CLI is designed to simplify everyday operations.
Built with TypeScript
HostnExtra CLI is developed using modern TypeScript, providing:
- Strong type safety
- Modular architecture
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Easy plugin development
- Improved maintainability
The project follows modern development practices to ensure reliability and long-term growth.
Open Source from Day One
HostnExtra CLI is fully open source.
We believe infrastructure tools become stronger through community collaboration. Developers are welcome to explore the codebase, report issues, suggest improvements, and contribute new features.
Every contribution helps improve the experience for Linux users around the world.
GitHub Repository:
https://github.com/hostnextra/cli
Getting Started
Install HostnExtra CLI globally using npm:
npm install -g hostnextra
Or run it directly using npx:
npx hostnextra
To view all available commands:
hostnextra --help
What's Next
HostnExtra CLI is actively evolving, with several new plugins already in development.
Future areas of focus include:
- Container management
- Backup utilities
- Deployment automation
- Additional networking tools
- Infrastructure productivity plugins
Our vision is to build a comprehensive command-line toolkit that supports the daily workflow of Linux professionals while remaining lightweight, modular, and easy to extend.
Join the Community
We're excited to continue building HostnExtra CLI alongside the open source community.
If you're passionate about Linux, DevOps, server management, or open source software, we'd love to have you involved.
⭐ Star the project on GitHub
🐞 Report issues and suggest features
💡 Share ideas for new plugins
🤝 Contribute to the codebase
GitHub Repository:
https://github.com/hostnextra/cli
Thank you for being part of the journey. We look forward to building the future of Linux server management together.
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