Import from MobaXterm

Complete guide to import your MobaXterm bookmarks into Xermius with folder structure preserved.

Overview

MobaXterm stores bookmarks in MobaXterm.ini file with a special folder structure called SubRep. Xermius can import these bookmarks and convert SubRep folders into groups.

What Gets Imported:

• ✅ Session names → Host names
• ✅ IP addresses/hostnames
• ✅ Port numbers
• ✅ Usernames
• ✅ SubRep folders → Groups (with hierarchy preserved!)
• ❌ Passwords (encrypted in MobaXterm)
• ❌ SSH keys (will need to re-configure)
• ❌ Terminal colors/fonts

Special Feature:

• Folder structure (SubRep) is preserved as groups
• Example: Production/Web Servers → Group: "Production/Web Servers"

Export from MobaXterm

Locate MobaXterm.ini File

Default location:

C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\MobaXterm\MobaXterm.ini

Or in MobaXterm installation folder:

C:\Program Files\MobaXterm\MobaXterm.ini

Copy the File

1. Navigate to MobaXterm folder
2. Copy MobaXterm.ini to your Desktop or Downloads
3. That's it! - No special export needed

Tip: You can also export just the relevant sections:

• Copy lines starting with [Bookmarks]
• Copy lines starting with [Bookmarks_N] (where N is a number)

Understanding MobaXterm Format

Structure Example

[Bookmarks]
SubRep=Production
SubRep=Development
SubRep=Staging

[Bookmarks_1]
web-server=#109#0%192.168.1.100%22%admin%-1%-1%%%%%...

[Bookmarks_2]
db-server=#109#0%192.168.1.101%3306%root%-1%-1%%%%%...

[Bookmarks_3]
staging-server=#109#0%staging.example.com%22%ubuntu%-1%-1%%%%%...

What it means:

• [Bookmarks] - Contains folder definitions (SubRep)
• SubRep=Production - First folder is "Production"
• SubRep=Development - Second folder is "Development"
• [Bookmarks_1] - Sessions in first folder (Production)
• [Bookmarks_2] - Sessions in second folder (Development)
• #109 - Session type (SSH)
• Format: #109#0%host%port%username%...

Import to Xermius

Step 1: Open Import Dialog

1. Open Xermius
2. Click NEW HOST dropdown
3. Select Import Hosts

Step 2: Select MobaXterm Format

1. Click MobaXterm tab
2. Click Browse File
3. Select your MobaXterm.ini file
4. Click Open

Step 3: Preview with Folder Structure

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Import Preview                               │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Found 12 MobaXterm sessions                  │
│                                              │
│ 📁 Production (5 hosts)                      │
│   ✓ prod-web-01                              │
│     192.168.1.100:22 (admin)                 │
│     Group: Production                        │
│                                              │
│   ✓ prod-web-02                              │
│     192.168.1.101:22 (admin)                 │
│     Group: Production                        │
│                                              │
│   ... 3 more in Production                   │
│                                              │
│ 📁 Development (4 hosts)                     │
│   ✓ dev-server                               │
│     dev.example.com:22 (developer)           │
│     Group: Development                       │
│                                              │
│   ... 3 more in Development                  │
│                                              │
│ 📁 Staging (3 hosts)                         │
│   ... 3 hosts                                │
│                                              │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│        [Cancel]            [Import 12]       │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘

4. Review sessions and folder structure
5. Notice how SubRep folders → Groups
6. Click Import

Step 4: Complete Import

✓ Successfully imported 12 hosts from MobaXterm
  - 12 new hosts added
  - 3 groups created (Production, Development, Staging)
  - 0 duplicates skipped

Your MobaXterm bookmarks with folder structure are now in Xermius!

Format Details

Session String Format

MobaXterm uses this format:

SessionName=#109#0%host%port%username%ComputerName%RemoteDir%...

Xermius reads:

• Position 1: #109 = SSH session (only SSH imported)
• Position 3: host = IP address or hostname
• Position 4: port = Port number (usually 22)
• Position 5: username = SSH username

Other session types skipped:

• #98 - RDP
• #100 - VNC
• #128 - FTP
• etc.

SubRep Folder Mapping

MobaXterm                    Xermius
────────────────────────────────────────
[Bookmarks]
SubRep=Production     →      Group: Production
SubRep=Development    →      Group: Development

[Bookmarks_1]         →      Sessions in "Production"
[Bookmarks_2]         →      Sessions in "Development"

Index mapping:

• First SubRep → [Bookmarks_1]
• Second SubRep → [Bookmarks_2]
• Third SubRep → [Bookmarks_3]
• And so on...

Configuration Mapping

What Transfers Automatically

MobaXterm Setting	Xermius Field	Notes
Session Name	Host Name	Direct copy
Host/IP	Host Address	From connection string
Port	Port	From connection string
Username	Username	From connection string
SubRep Folder	Group	Folder structure preserved
Session Type	-	Only SSH (#109) imported

What Needs Manual Setup

Passwords:

• MobaXterm encrypts passwords
• Cannot be exported
• Add manually after import

SSH Keys:

• MobaXterm uses its own key storage
• Export keys from MobaXterm first
• Then import to Xermius keychain

Terminal Settings:

• Colors, fonts, cursor style
• Set in Xermius Settings

Post-Import Tasks

1. Verify Folder Structure

Check groups in Xermius:
- Production (5 hosts)
- Development (4 hosts)
- Staging (3 hosts)

All folders preserved!

2. Set Passwords

For each host:

1. Right-click → Edit
2. Enter password
3. Save

Or use SSH keys (recommended).

3. Configure SSH Keys

If you used keys in MobaXterm:

1. Export keys from MobaXterm:

   • Tools → MobaKeyGen
   • Load your key
   • Export as OpenSSH format

2. Import to Xermius:

   • SSH Keys tab
   • Import Key
   • Select exported key

3. Assign to hosts:

   • Edit each host
   • Select SSH key
   • Save

4. Test Connections

For each group:
1. Expand group
2. Test one host
3. Verify connection
4. If works, others should too

Troubleshooting

No Sessions Found

Problem: Import shows "No valid hosts found"

Solution:

• Check if file is actually MobaXterm.ini
• Open file and verify it has [Bookmarks] section
• Check if sessions have #109 (SSH type)
• Non-SSH sessions are skipped

Folders Not Preserved

Problem: All hosts imported without groups

Solution:

• Check if file has SubRep= entries in [Bookmarks] section
• If missing, folders weren't used in MobaXterm
• You can manually create groups after import

Some Sessions Missing

Problem: Not all sessions were imported

Solution:

• Only SSH sessions (#109) are imported
• RDP, VNC, FTP sessions are skipped
• Check session type in MobaXterm.ini:
  • #109 = SSH ✓
  • #98 = RDP ✗
  • #100 = VNC ✗

Wrong Usernames

Problem: Usernames not correct

Solution:

• MobaXterm sometimes uses computer name instead
• Edit hosts manually to correct usernames
• Batch edit if many hosts affected

Tips for Smooth Migration

Before Export

✅ Organize in MobaXterm first - Clean up old sessions
✅ Use folders - SubRep folders become groups
✅ Note passwords - Will need to re-enter
✅ Export SSH keys - Save to safe location

During Import

✅ Review folder structure - Check SubRep → Groups mapping
✅ Verify session count - Matches MobaXterm
✅ Note SSH-only - Only SSH sessions import

After Import

✅ Test by group - One host per group
✅ Bulk password setup - Do by group
✅ Configure keys - Import and assign
✅ Add tags - Further organize hosts

Example: Full Migration

Let's migrate MobaXterm with 3 folders:

MobaXterm Setup:

📁 Production
   - prod-web-01 (192.168.1.100:22, admin, key: prod.key)
   - prod-web-02 (192.168.1.101:22, admin, key: prod.key)
📁 Development  
   - dev-server (dev.example.com:22, developer, password)
📁 Clients
   - client-a (client-a.com:22, root, password)

Migration Steps:

1. Copy MobaXterm.ini:

   C:\Users\YourUser\Documents\MobaXterm\MobaXterm.ini
   → Desktop\MobaXterm.ini

2. Export SSH Key:

   • MobaXterm → Tools → MobaKeyGen
   • Load prod.key
   • Export OpenSSH format → prod-openssh.key

3. Import to Xermius:

   • Import Hosts → MobaXterm tab
   • Select MobaXterm.ini
   • Review 4 hosts in 3 groups
   • Import

4. Import SSH Key:

   • SSH Keys tab → Import
   • Select prod-openssh.key
   • Name it "Production Key"

5. Configure Hosts:

   Production Group:
   - prod-web-01 → Set SSH Key: "Production Key"
   - prod-web-02 → Set SSH Key: "Production Key"
   
   Development Group:
   - dev-server → Enter password
   
   Clients Group:
   - client-a → Enter password

6. Test All:

   • Production: Connect with key ✓
   • Development: Connect with password ✓
   • Clients: Connect with password ✓

Done! All hosts migrated with folder structure preserved!

Advantages of Xermius Groups

MobaXterm SubRep folders → Xermius Groups benefits:

Better Organization:

✓ Nested groups (Production/Web/Frontend)
✓ Multiple group assignment
✓ Group-based filtering
✓ Bulk operations per group

Enhanced Features:

✓ Connect to all in group
✓ Run snippet on group
✓ Export group separately
✓ Group-based permissions (coming soon)

Next Steps

• 📚 Import/Export Overview
• 📁 Organize Hosts
• 🔑 SSH Key Management
• 🏷️ Tagging Hosts