Adjust Buffer Sizes
Increasing scrollback and screen buffer sizes helps reduce frequent data requests by storing more session history locally. Navigate to Options -> Session Options -> Terminal -> Appearance, and raise the values for “Scrollback Lines” (e.g., 50,000 lines) and “Screen Buffer Size” to retain more output without impacting performance.
Optimize Font and Color Settings
Using smaller, simpler fonts decreases the number of pixels rendered, improving screen refresh speed. Choose a compact font (e.g., “Consolas” or “Courier New”) and reduce font size (e.g., 10–12pt). Simplify color schemes—avoid complex gradients or custom themes—and stick to default or “Traditional” schemes to minimize rendering overhead.
Disable Unnecessary Features
Turn off features that consume system resources without adding value. In Terminal -> Appearance, disable “Auto Wrap” to prevent automatic line breaks. In Terminal -> Mouse, disable mouse support if you don’t use mouse interactions (e.g., clicking to position the cursor), which reduces processing time for mouse events.
Enable SSH Compression
Compressing data before transmission reduces the volume of data sent over the network, improving connection speed—especially for low-bandwidth or high-latency links. Go to Session Options -> SSH2 -> Compression and enable the option. This is particularly effective for text-heavy tasks (e.g., log viewing).
Use SSH Key Authentication
Replacing password authentication with SSH keys speeds up the login process and enhances security. In Session Options -> SSH2 -> PublicKey, import your private key. This eliminates the need for repeated password entry, reducing connection delays caused by authentication handshake.
Optimize Network Settings
Tweak TCP parameters to enhance data transfer efficiency. On the Linux server, edit /etc/sysctl.conf to enable window scaling and increase buffer sizes:
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1
net.core.rmem_max = 16777216
net.core.wmem_max = 16777216
Run sysctl -p to apply changes. Additionally, in SecureCRT’s session options (Connection -> SSH -> TCP/IP), adjust the “Window Size” (e.g., 65536) to match your network capacity.
Configure Session Keepalive
Prevent disconnections due to network inactivity by enabling keepalive signals. In Options -> Global Options -> Terminal -> Anti-idle, set a time interval (e.g., 5 minutes) to send a space character or null packet to the server. This keeps the session active and avoids re-establishing connections, which saves time.
Upgrade SecureCRT Version
Keep SecureCRT updated to the latest version to benefit from performance improvements, bug fixes, and optimized code for Linux environments. New versions often include enhancements for SSH protocol handling, memory management, and rendering speed.
Use Efficient File Transfer Protocols
Leverage Zmodem or SFTP for faster file transfers instead of traditional methods. For Zmodem, enable it in Session Options -> Terminal -> File Transfer, and use rz (upload) and sz (download) commands in the terminal. SFTP is integrated into SecureCRT—simply drag and drop files between the local and remote windows for efficient transfers.