You need to install OpenSSH client: root@OpenWrt:~# opkg update root@OpenWrt:~# opkg install openssh-client Now OpenSSH client replaced DropBear client: root@OpenWrt:~# ls -l /usr/bin/ssh -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 590667 May 24 14:54 /usr/bin/ssh root@OpenWrt:~# ls -l /rom/usr/bin/ssh lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 16 Aug 19 2016 /rom/usr/bin/ssh -> ../sbin/dropbear root@OpenWrt:~# ls -l /overlay/upper/usr/bin/ssh -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 590667 May 24 14:54 /overlay/upper/usr/bin/ssh Can you spot a difference: root@OpenWrt:~# ssh usage: ssh [-1246AaCfGgKkMNnqsTtVvXxYy] [-b bind_address] [-c cipher_spec] [-D [bind_address:]port] [-E log_file] [-e escape_char] [-F configfile] [-I pkcs11] [-i identity_file...