What is required to establish an SSH connection from a client device?

To establish an SSH connection from a client device, having an installed SSH client is essential. The SSH client is responsible for initiating the communication with the SSH server, allowing secure shell access over a network. It enables users to connect securely to remote servers, issuing commands in a encrypted manner, effectively ensuring that data transmitted between the client and server is protected from eavesdropping and tampering.

The other options do not directly facilitate the establishment of an SSH connection. A network monitoring tool is used for observing and analyzing the traffic on a network but does not initiate connections. An external hard drive serves as storage and does not play a role in the communication process. Firewall configuration might need to allow SSH traffic, but it isn’t a requirement to establish a connection; rather, it’s more about how the connection is permitted after the client application is used. The pivotal requirement is the SSH client, which forms the basis for secure communication.