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SAML/OIDC SSO for SSH on Arch Linux

Arch Linux is a community-developed distribution.

Add SAML/OIDC Single Sign-On to SSH on Arch Linux. Replace SSH keys with identity-based authentication via your corporate IdP. Deploy via local agent or gateway SSH proxy. Secure rolling-release workstations and servers from SSH zero-day vulnerabilities.

Quick Start Guide How It Works
Quick Start

Get Started in Minutes

Install the OnePAM agent with a single command. No packages to download, no repositories to configure.

Step 1 — Install
curl -sSL https://onepam.com/install/YOUR_ORG_UUID | sudo bash
Step 2 — Verify
systemctl status onepam-agent
The installer auto-registers the endpoint. Confirm the service is active.
Before OnePAM
SSH keys scattered across developer machines
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 ssh-copy-id [email protected] ssh-copy-id [email protected] ssh-copy-id [email protected]
Developer SSH keys grant access to build, staging, and personal infrastructure
Rolling updates change SSH behavior
# pacman -Syu upgrades OpenSSH to latest version # New defaults may break existing key types # No warning about security-relevant config changes # RSA keys deprecated without notice
Rolling releases can silently change SSH authentication behavior
No centralized access management
# Each Arch user manages their own SSH keys # No MFA enforcement on developer workstations # No session recording for shared servers # No audit trail for who accessed what
Individual key management doesn't scale in team environments
After OnePAM
Install OnePAM agent
curl -sSL https://onepam.com/install/YOUR_ORG_UUID | sudo bash
Works on Arch Linux — survives pacman -Syu rolling updates
Verify service and registration
systemctl status onepam-agent
The installer auto-registers this endpoint with your organization
SSH with corporate identity
onepam ssh workstation01.corp.com # → Redirected to Okta/Azure AD/Google Workspace # → MFA verified, short-lived certificate issued # → Session recorded automatically
Use 'onepam ssh' — works regardless of OpenSSH version changes from rolling updates
Overview

Why Arch Linux Systems Need Identity-Based SSH Access

Arch Linux is a rolling-release distribution favored by developers, power users, and DevOps engineers who want the latest software at all times. Arch runs on developer workstations, home labs, personal servers, and increasingly in small-team production environments. Its rolling-release model means OpenSSH is always the latest upstream version — great for features, but each update could introduce regressions. SSH access to Arch systems is managed via authorized_keys files that persist through pacman -Syu upgrades indefinitely. OnePAM adds SAML/OIDC SSO to SSH on Arch Linux without modifying sshd configuration. The local agent installs via pacman or the AUR and survives rolling updates. The gateway SSH proxy protects Arch systems without any agent installation. Both modes enforce MFA via your corporate IdP, issue short-lived certificates, record sessions, and provide centralized audit trails.

Local Agent

Install the OnePAM agent on Arch Linux with a single command. The agent survives pacman -Syu rolling updates. Compatible with the latest OpenSSH versions shipping in Arch's repositories.

Gateway SSH Proxy

Deploy a OnePAM gateway to proxy SSH connections to Arch Linux systems. No agent required. Ideal for developer workstations, home labs, and environments where users prefer minimal additional software.

SSH Security Risks

SSH Security Risks on Arch Linux

Without identity-based SSH access, these risks threaten your servers every day.

Arch Linux ships the latest upstream OpenSSH within days of release — including versions that may contain undiscovered zero-day vulnerabilities
Rolling updates can change SSH default behaviors (cipher suites, key types) without warning, creating transient security gaps
Developer workstations running Arch often have SSH enabled with minimal hardening and keys granting access to production infrastructure
SSH keys on Arch systems persist through years of rolling updates without audit or rotation
Home lab and personal server SSH keys frequently share trust relationships with corporate infrastructure
The Challenge

SSH Security Challenges

These are the risks organizations face with traditional SSH authentication.

Rolling Release Instability

Arch's rolling release model means OpenSSH is always the latest version. Security defaults change without notice. Key types may be deprecated between updates.

Developer Workstation Security

Arch is popular for developer workstations. SSH keys on these machines grant access to corporate build servers, staging environments, and production systems.

No Enterprise Identity Stack

Arch Linux does not include enterprise identity frameworks. No SSSD, no centralized authentication by default. SSH relies entirely on local keys and accounts.

Home Lab to Production Leakage

Developers often reuse SSH keys between personal Arch machines and corporate infrastructure. A compromised home lab becomes a path to production.

Manual Everything

Arch's philosophy requires users to configure everything manually. SSH hardening, key rotation, and access auditing are the user's responsibility.

Team Scaling Challenges

SSH key management that works for one Arch user breaks down when a team of 20 developers needs access to shared infrastructure.

Setup Guide

How OnePAM Adds SSO to SSH on Arch Linux

Step-by-step guide to deploying identity-based SSH access.

1

Choose Agent or Gateway Deployment

Install the OnePAM agent on Arch Linux, or deploy a gateway SSH proxy for agentless protection.

Agent: Run 'curl -sSL https://onepam.com/install/YOUR_ORG_UUID | sudo bash' on Arch Linux. The agent uses systemd and survives rolling updates. Gateway: Deploy OnePAM gateway as a container or VM.
2

Connect Your Identity Provider

Configure your corporate IdP (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, or any SAML 2.0/OIDC provider) for SSH authentication.

OnePAM handles SAML/OIDC handshakes. Users authenticate with MFA and receive short-lived certificates. IdP attributes map to Arch Linux users and groups.
3

Define Access Policies

Set policies for who can SSH to which Arch systems, with what privileges and conditions.

Map IdP groups to Arch access levels: 'senior-devs' get workstation access, 'platform-team' gets build server access, 'contractors' get time-limited access.
4

SSH with Corporate Identity

Users SSH to Arch systems using corporate credentials. Short-lived certificates replace static SSH keys.

Run 'onepam ssh workstation01.corp.com'. OnePAM redirects to the IdP, authenticates with MFA, issues a certificate, and establishes the SSH session.
5

Audit and Comply

Every SSH session is logged with IdP context. Optional session recording captures every keystroke.

Centralized audit trail across all Arch systems. Track who accessed which workstation or server, when, and what they did.
Key Benefits

Benefits of SSH SSO on Arch Linux

What changes when you deploy identity-based SSH access.

Survive Rolling Updates

OnePAM agent works with whatever OpenSSH version Arch ships. No reconfiguration needed after pacman -Syu updates OpenSSH.

Zero reconfiguration on update

Secure Developer Workstations

Replace static SSH keys on developer Arch workstations with MFA-protected, time-limited certificates tied to corporate identity.

MFA-protected developer SSH

Isolate Home Lab from Production

OnePAM policies ensure personal Arch systems only access approved corporate resources. Home lab SSH keys no longer grant production access.

Zero key reuse across environments

Shield from SSH Zero-Days

Gateway mode prevents direct access to Arch's sshd. Even if the latest OpenSSH has an undiscovered vulnerability, the gateway blocks exploitation.

100% of unauthenticated SSH attacks blocked

Instant Deprovisioning

Disable a developer in your IdP and SSH access to every Arch system stops immediately. No manual key cleanup.

Real-time access revocation

Team-Scale SSH Management

Scale SSH access management from individual Arch users to teams of any size with centralized identity-based policies.

Scales from 1 to 1000+ users
SSO Features

SSH SSO Capabilities

Every feature needed for enterprise-grade SSH authentication.

SAML 2.0 & OIDC authentication for SSH on Arch Linux
Short-lived certificates (1-24 hour TTL)
Compatible with Arch Linux rolling release model
Survives pacman -Syu OpenSSH updates
IdP group-to-Linux-group mapping
Automatic user provisioning on first SSH login
Just-in-time sudo elevation with MFA step-up
SSH session recording with keystroke replay
IP and geo-restriction for SSH access
Device trust verification before granting access
Security

Zero-Day Protection Features

Enterprise-grade security controls for SSH access.

Gateway shields sshd from network-based exploits
Zero-day protection for bleeding-edge OpenSSH
SSH protocol inspection at the gateway
Command filtering and blocklists
Real-time session monitoring and termination
Automatic certificate expiration (no key rotation needed)
Encrypted session recordings with tamper detection
Integration with SIEM (Splunk, Datadog, Elastic)
Real-World Scenarios

Arch Linux SSH SSO Use Cases

Common scenarios where organizations deploy OnePAM SSH SSO.

1
Software development team managing SSH access to 50+ Arch Linux developer workstations with corporate SSO and MFA enforcement
2
DevOps team securing Arch Linux build servers and CI/CD runners with identity-verified SSH and session recording
3
Security-conscious startup replacing SSH keys with short-lived certificates on Arch-based development infrastructure
4
Platform engineering team managing SSH access to Arch Linux home lab environments that connect to corporate resources
5
Open-source project with Arch-using contributors requiring auditable SSH access to shared build and test infrastructure
6
Small SaaS company using Arch Linux servers in production with identity-based SSH access for the engineering team
Frequently Asked Questions

SSO for SSH on Arch Linux FAQ

Common questions about SSH SSO and zero-day protection.

Does OnePAM work with Arch Linux's rolling releases?

Yes. The OnePAM agent is installed as a systemd service and survives pacman -Syu updates, including OpenSSH version changes. The agent is compatible with whatever OpenSSH version Arch ships.

Can OnePAM be installed via pacman or the AUR?

OnePAM can be installed via the quick install script (curl | sudo bash) which handles all dependencies. The agent is managed as a standard systemd service on Arch Linux.

Does OnePAM work with Arch derivatives like Manjaro?

Yes. OnePAM works on Arch Linux and Arch-based distributions including Manjaro, EndeavourOS, and others that use systemd and pacman. The agent and gateway are distribution-agnostic.

How does OnePAM handle frequent OpenSSH updates on Arch?

OnePAM's certificate-based authentication works with any OpenSSH version. When pacman updates OpenSSH, OnePAM continues to function without reconfiguration. The gateway mode is entirely independent of the target host's SSH version.

Can OnePAM secure SSH to Arch Linux home lab servers?

Yes. OnePAM can protect SSH access to personal Arch systems that connect to corporate infrastructure. Access policies ensure home lab machines only reach approved resources, preventing key reuse attacks.

Is OnePAM lightweight enough for Arch's minimalist philosophy?

Yes. The OnePAM agent is a single static binary with no external dependencies. It runs as a systemd service with minimal resource usage. For zero-footprint deployment, the gateway SSH proxy requires no software on the Arch host at all.
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Add SSO to SSH on Arch Linux

Deploy identity-based SSH access on Arch Linux in minutes.

Quick Start Guide All SSH SSO Guides