How to Install SecureCRT on Ubuntu 24.04

This guide covers the step-by-step process for installing SecureCRT (version 9.6.x) on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat).

When installing SecureCRT on the latest version of Ubuntu, you may encounter a dependency error regarding libxcb-cursor0. This guide includes the necessary steps to resolve this dependency and ensure a clean installation.

1. Download the Installer

First, download the official installer (.deb file) for Ubuntu from the VanDyke Software website.

• Download Link: VanDyke Software - SecureCRT Download
• Platform: Ubuntu 24.04 Installer (deb) 64-bit
• File Name Example: scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

2. Navigate to the Download Directory

Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where the file was downloaded (usually ~/Downloads).

cd ~/Downloads

3. Run the Initial Installation

Attempt to install the package using dpkg.

sudo dpkg -i scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

Note: On Ubuntu 24.04, this command will likely return a dependency error stating that libxcb-cursor0 is missing. This is normal behavior for this environment.

Error message example:
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of scrt: scrt depends on libxcb-cursor0

4. Install Missing Dependencies (libxcb-cursor0)

To fix the error and complete the configuration, install the required libxcb-cursor0 library using apt. This command will install the missing library and automatically finish configuring SecureCRT.

sudo apt install -y libxcb-cursor0

You should see a message indicating that scrt is being configured:

Setting up scrt (9.6.4-3695) ...

5. Finalize and Verify

To ensure everything is installed correctly, you can run the dpkg command one last time. If all dependencies are met, it will complete without errors.

sudo dpkg -i scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

6. Launch SecureCRT

The installation is now complete. You can launch SecureCRT from your application menu or by running the command below in your terminal:

SecureCRT

TL;DR (Quick Summary)

Run the following commands in order to complete the installation:

# 1. Attempt install (might show dependency error)
sudo dpkg -i scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

# 2. Fix dependencies (Installs libxcb-cursor0)
sudo apt install -y libxcb-cursor0

# 3. Finalize install
sudo dpkg -i scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

A shorter way

The three-step dpkg dance works and shows you exactly which dependency is missing, which is why it’s worth knowing. But apt can resolve everything in one shot if you point it at the local file — note the ./, which tells apt it’s a path, not a package name:

sudo apt install ./scrt-9.6.4-3695.ubuntu24-64.x86_64.deb

That installs SecureCRT and pulls in libxcb-cursor0 automatically, no repeated command needed.

With it installed, the next step is usually wiring up a connection — see setting up a serial console in SecureCRT.