// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// * nodes/nodes-containers-using.adoc

[id="nodes-containers-using-ssh_{context}"]
= Opening a Remote Shell to Containers

The `oc rsh` command allows you to locally access and manage tools that are on
the system. The secure shell (SSH) is the underlying technology and industry
standard that provides a secure connection to the application. Access to
applications with the shell environment is protected and restricted with
Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) policies.

While in the remote shell, you can issue commands as if you are inside the
container and perform local operations like monitoring, debugging, and using CLI
commands specific to what is running in the container.

For example, in a MySQL container, you can count the number of records in the
database by invoking the `mysql` command, then using the prompt to type in the `SELECT` command. You can
also use commands like `ps(1)` and `ls(1)` for validation.

`BuildConfigs` and `DeployConfigs` map out how you want things to look and
pods (with containers inside) are created and dismantled as needed. Your changes
are not persistent. If you make changes directly within the container and that
container is destroyed and rebuilt, your changes will no longer exist.

[NOTE]
====
You can use the `oc exec` c to execute a command remotely. However, the `oc rsh` command provides an easier way
to keep a remote shell open persistently.
====

.Procedure

. Open a console on a system networked to connect to the node where your pod is located.

. Open a remote shell session to a container:
+
----
$ oc rsh <pod>
----

[NOTE]
====
For help with usage, options, and to see examples:
----
$ oc rsh -h
----
====