Before you begin

What is SSH?

SSH lets MARC connect securely to your Mac over the network. Remote Login is the macOS setting that enables this connection.

You sign in with a Mac account. Commands and file actions use that account’s permissions.

1. Enable Remote Login

On your Mac, open System Settings → General → Sharing → Remote Login. Turn it on and allow the account you intend to use. Prefer access for selected users.

2. Check your account and Python

Use your Mac account’s short username, rather than its display name or Apple Account email. Run these commands in your Mac’s Terminal:

Mac Terminal
whoami
python3 --version

If Python 3 is missing, install it on your Mac. It must also be available when that account connects over SSH.

3. Add your Mac

Allow Local Network access on iPhone when prompted. In MARC, scan Nearby Macs and select your Mac, or add its current address manually. The usual SSH port is 22; enter your configured port if different.

Use your Mac account password or a saved SSH key.

4. Verify and connect

Compare the SSH host-key fingerprint before trusting the connection. In your Mac’s Terminal, list its public host-key fingerprints:

Mac Terminal
for key in /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*_key.pub; do
    ssh-keygen -lf "$key" -E sha256
done

Match both the fingerprint and key type shown in MARC. If a fingerprint changes unexpectedly, investigate before accepting it.

What to enter when adding a Mac

  • Name: a label you will recognize, such as “MacBook Air”.
  • Address: the Mac’s current IP address or a hostname your iPhone can resolve.
  • Port: usually 22, unless you changed your SSH configuration.
  • Username: the short account name returned by whoami.
  • Authentication: your Mac account password or a saved SSH key.

For a manual connection, find the Mac’s current network address in System Settings. Enter the Mac’s address, rather than your router’s address. If the address changes later, update the saved profile.

Why Python 3 is needed

MARC uses Python scripts on the Mac to collect monitoring data and perform file actions. A successful SSH login does not necessarily mean Python is available to that login.

If Terminal connects but monitoring or file actions fail, check Python from an SSH session. The Troubleshooting guide includes a command for this.

After your first connection

Open Status and wait for readings to appear. Then try browsing your home folder in Files. These checks help confirm that both the SSH connection and the tools MARC uses are working.

If something fails, note which part failed. A rejected password, an unreachable Mac, and missing Python are different problems, even if they happen during setup.