diff --git a/acme.sh b/acme.sh
index f3c8601e..0b5c1614 100755
--- a/acme.sh
+++ b/acme.sh
@@ -2352,6 +2352,26 @@ _readdomainconf() {
   _read_conf "$DOMAIN_CONF" "$1"
 }
 
+#_migratedomainconf   oldkey  newkey  base64encode
+_migratedomainconf() {
+  _old_key="$1"
+  _new_key="$2"
+  _b64encode="$3"
+  _value=$(_readdomainconf "$_old_key")
+  if [ -z "$_value" ]; then
+    return 1 # oldkey is not found
+  fi
+  _savedomainconf "$_new_key" "$_value" "$_b64encode"
+  _cleardomainconf "$_old_key"
+  _debug "Domain config $_old_key has been migrated to $_new_key"
+}
+
+#_migratedeployconf   oldkey  newkey  base64encode
+_migratedeployconf() {
+  _migratedomainconf "$1" "SAVED_$2" "$3" ||
+    _migratedomainconf "SAVED_$1" "SAVED_$2" "$3" # try only when oldkey itself is not found
+}
+
 #key  value  base64encode
 _savedeployconf() {
   _savedomainconf "SAVED_$1" "$2" "$3"
diff --git a/deploy/ssh.sh b/deploy/ssh.sh
index 89962621..c66e2e19 100644
--- a/deploy/ssh.sh
+++ b/deploy/ssh.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # The following examples are for QNAP NAS running QTS 4.2
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_CMD=""  # defaults to "ssh -T"
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_USER="admin"  # required
-# export DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER="qnap"  # defaults to domain name
+# export DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER="host1 host2:8022 192.168.0.1:9022"  # defaults to domain name, support multiple servers with optional port
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE="/etc/stunnel/stunnel.pem"
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE="/etc/stunnel/stunnel.pem"
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE="/etc/stunnel/uca.pem"
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP=""  # yes or no, default to yes or previously saved value
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH=".acme_ssh_deploy"  # path on remote system. Defaults to .acme_ssh_deploy
 # export DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL=""  # yes or no, default to no or previously saved value
+# export DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP="" yes or no, default to no
+# export DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD="" defaults to "scp -q"
 #
 ########  Public functions #####################
 
@@ -42,72 +44,134 @@ ssh_deploy() {
   _debug _cfullchain "$_cfullchain"
 
   # USER is required to login by SSH to remote host.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_user DEPLOY_SSH_USER
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_USER
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_USER "$DEPLOY_SSH_USER"
   if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_USER" ]; then
-    if [ -z "$Le_Deploy_ssh_user" ]; then
-      _err "DEPLOY_SSH_USER not defined."
-      return 1
-    fi
-  else
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_user="$DEPLOY_SSH_USER"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_user "$Le_Deploy_ssh_user"
+    _err "DEPLOY_SSH_USER not defined."
+    return 1
   fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_USER "$DEPLOY_SSH_USER"
 
   # SERVER is optional. If not provided then use _cdomain
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_server DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER "$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER"
-  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_server="$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_server "$Le_Deploy_ssh_server"
-  elif [ -z "$Le_Deploy_ssh_server" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_server="$_cdomain"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER="$_cdomain"
   fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER "$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER"
 
   # CMD is optional. If not provided then use ssh
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd DEPLOY_SSH_CMD
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CMD
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD"
-  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd="$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd"
-  elif [ -z "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd="ssh -T"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_CMD="ssh -T"
   fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD"
 
   # BACKUP is optional. If not provided then default to previously saved value or yes.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_backup DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP"
-  if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "no" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_backup="no"
-  elif [ -z "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" ] || [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_backup="yes"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP="yes"
   fi
-  _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_backup "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup"
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP"
 
   # BACKUP_PATH is optional. If not provided then default to previously saved value or .acme_ssh_deploy
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH"
-  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path="$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH"
-  elif [ -z "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path=".acme_ssh_deploy"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH=".acme_ssh_deploy"
   fi
-  _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path"
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH"
 
   # MULTI_CALL is optional. If not provided then default to previously saved
   # value (which may be undefined... equivalent to "no").
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL
   _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL
   _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL"
-  if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call="yes"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call"
-  elif [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "no" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call=""
-    _cleardomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL="no"
+  fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL"
+
+  # KEYFILE is optional.
+  # If provided then private key will be copied to provided filename.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
+    _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"
   fi
 
-  _deploy_ssh_servers=$Le_Deploy_ssh_server
-  for Le_Deploy_ssh_server in $_deploy_ssh_servers; do
+  # CERTFILE is optional.
+  # If provided then certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ]; then
+    _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"
+  fi
+
+  # CAFILE is optional.
+  # If provided then CA intermediate certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" ]; then
+    _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"
+  fi
+
+  # FULLCHAIN is optional.
+  # If provided then fullchain certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" ]; then
+    _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"
+  fi
+
+  # REMOTE_CMD is optional.
+  # If provided then this command will be executed on remote host.
+  _migratedeployconf Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD"
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD" ]; then
+    _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD"
+  fi
+
+  # USE_SCP is optional. If not provided then default to previously saved
+  # value (which may be undefined... equivalent to "no").
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP="no"
+  fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP"
+
+  # SCP_CMD is optional. If not provided then use scp
+  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD
+  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD"
+  if [ -z "$DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD="scp -q"
+  fi
+  _savedeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD"
+
+  if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" = "yes" ]; then
+    DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL="yes"
+    _info "Using scp as alternate method for copying files. Multicall Mode is implicit"
+  elif [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+    _info "Using MULTI_CALL mode... Required commands sent in multiple calls to remote host"
+  else
+    _info "Required commands batched and sent in single call to remote host"
+  fi
+
+  _deploy_ssh_servers="$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER"
+  for DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER in $_deploy_ssh_servers; do
     _ssh_deploy
   done
 }
@@ -117,16 +181,25 @@ _ssh_deploy() {
   _cmdstr=""
   _backupprefix=""
   _backupdir=""
+  _local_cert_file=""
+  _local_ca_file=""
+  _local_full_file=""
 
-  _info "Deploy certificates to remote server $Le_Deploy_ssh_user@$Le_Deploy_ssh_server"
-  if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
-    _info "Using MULTI_CALL mode... Required commands sent in multiple calls to remote host"
-  else
-    _info "Required commands batched and sent in single call to remote host"
-  fi
+  case $DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER in
+  *:*)
+    _host=${DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER%:*}
+    _port=${DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER##*:}
+    ;;
+  *)
+    _host=$DEPLOY_SSH_SERVER
+    _port=
+    ;;
+  esac
 
-  if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" = "yes" ]; then
-    _backupprefix="$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup_path/$_cdomain-backup"
+  _info "Deploy certificates to remote server $DEPLOY_SSH_USER@$_host:$_port"
+
+  if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
+    _backupprefix="$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP_PATH/$_cdomain-backup"
     _backupdir="$_backupprefix-$(_utc_date | tr ' ' '-')"
     # run cleanup on the backup directory, erase all older
     # than 180 days (15552000 seconds).
@@ -138,7 +211,7 @@ then rm -rf \"\$fn\"; echo \"Backup \$fn deleted as older than 180 days\"; fi; d
     _cmdstr="mkdir -p $_backupdir; $_cmdstr"
     _info "Backup of old certificate files will be placed in remote directory $_backupdir"
     _info "Backup directories erased after 180 days."
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
       if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
@@ -146,129 +219,184 @@ then rm -rf \"\$fn\"; echo \"Backup \$fn deleted as older than 180 days\"; fi; d
     fi
   fi
 
-  # KEYFILE is optional.
-  # If provided then private key will be copied to provided filename.
-  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE
-  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"
   if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile="$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile "$Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile"
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile" ]; then
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" = "yes" ]; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
       # backup file we are about to overwrite.
-      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
-    # copy new certificate into file.
-    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_ckey")\" > $Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile;"
-    _info "will copy private key to remote file $Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
-      if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+
+    # copy new key into file.
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" = "yes" ]; then
+      # scp the file
+      if ! _scp_remote_cmd "$_ckey" "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
-      _cmdstr=""
+    else
+      # ssh echo to the file
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_ckey")\" > $DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE;"
+      _info "will copy private key to remote file $DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
   fi
 
-  # CERTFILE is optional.
-  # If provided then certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
-  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE
-  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"
   if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile="$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile "$Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile"
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile" ]; then
     _pipe=">"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile" ]; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
       # if filename is same as previous file then append.
       _pipe=">>"
-    elif [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" = "yes" ]; then
+    elif [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
       # backup file we are about to overwrite.
-      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
+
     # copy new certificate into file.
-    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_ccert")\" $_pipe $Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile;"
-    _info "will copy certificate to remote file $Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
-      if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" = "yes" ]; then
+      # scp the file
+      _local_cert_file=$(_mktemp)
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_ckey" >>"$_local_cert_file"
+      fi
+      cat "$_ccert" >>"$_local_cert_file"
+      if ! _scp_remote_cmd "$_local_cert_file" "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
-      _cmdstr=""
+    else
+      # ssh echo to the file
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_ccert")\" $_pipe $DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE;"
+      _info "will copy certificate to remote file $DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
   fi
 
-  # CAFILE is optional.
-  # If provided then CA intermediate certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
-  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE
-  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"
   if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile="$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile"
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile" ]; then
     _pipe=">"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile" ] ||
-      [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile" ]; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ] ||
+      [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ]; then
       # if filename is same as previous file then append.
       _pipe=">>"
-    elif [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" = "yes" ]; then
+    elif [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
       # backup file we are about to overwrite.
-      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
+
     # copy new certificate into file.
-    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_cca")\" $_pipe $Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile;"
-    _info "will copy CA file to remote file $Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
-      if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" = "yes" ]; then
+      # scp the file
+      _local_ca_file=$(_mktemp)
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_ckey" >>"$_local_ca_file"
+      fi
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_ccert" >>"$_local_ca_file"
+      fi
+      cat "$_cca" >>"$_local_ca_file"
+      if ! _scp_remote_cmd "$_local_ca_file" "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
-      _cmdstr=""
+    else
+      # ssh echo to the file
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_cca")\" $_pipe $DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE;"
+      _info "will copy CA file to remote file $DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
   fi
 
-  # FULLCHAIN is optional.
-  # If provided then fullchain certificate will be copied or appended to provided filename.
-  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN
-  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"
   if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain="$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain "$Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain"
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain" ]; then
     _pipe=">"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_keyfile" ] ||
-      [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_certfile" ] ||
-      [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain" = "$Le_Deploy_ssh_cafile" ]; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ] ||
+      [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ] ||
+      [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" ]; then
       # if filename is same as previous file then append.
       _pipe=">>"
-    elif [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_backup" = "yes" ]; then
+    elif [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_BACKUP" = "yes" ]; then
       # backup file we are about to overwrite.
-      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr cp $DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN $_backupdir >/dev/null;"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
+
     # copy new certificate into file.
-    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_cfullchain")\" $_pipe $Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain;"
-    _info "will copy fullchain to remote file $Le_Deploy_ssh_fullchain"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
-      if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_USE_SCP" = "yes" ]; then
+      # scp the file
+      _local_full_file=$(_mktemp)
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_KEYFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_ckey" >>"$_local_full_file"
+      fi
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CERTFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_ccert" >>"$_local_full_file"
+      fi
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN" = "$DEPLOY_SSH_CAFILE" ]; then
+        cat "$_cca" >>"$_local_full_file"
+      fi
+      cat "$_cfullchain" >>"$_local_full_file"
+      if ! _scp_remote_cmd "$_local_full_file" "$DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
-      _cmdstr=""
+    else
+      # ssh echo to the file
+      _cmdstr="$_cmdstr echo \"$(cat "$_cfullchain")\" $_pipe $DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN;"
+      _info "will copy fullchain to remote file $DEPLOY_SSH_FULLCHAIN"
+      if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
+        if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
+          return $_err_code
+        fi
+        _cmdstr=""
+      fi
     fi
   fi
 
-  # REMOTE_CMD is optional.
-  # If provided then this command will be executed on remote host.
-  _getdeployconf DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD
-  _debug2 DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD"
-  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD" ]; then
-    Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd="$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD"
-    _savedomainconf Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd "$Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd"
+  # cleanup local files if any
+  if [ -f "$_local_cert_file" ]; then
+    rm -f "$_local_cert_file"
   fi
-  if [ -n "$Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd" ]; then
-    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr $Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd;"
-    _info "Will execute remote command $Le_Deploy_ssh_remote_cmd"
-    if [ "$Le_Deploy_ssh_multi_call" = "yes" ]; then
+  if [ -f "$_local_ca_file" ]; then
+    rm -f "$_local_ca_file"
+  fi
+  if [ -f "$_local_full_file" ]; then
+    rm -f "$_local_full_file"
+  fi
+
+  if [ -n "$DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD" ]; then
+    _cmdstr="$_cmdstr $DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD;"
+    _info "Will execute remote command $DEPLOY_SSH_REMOTE_CMD"
+    if [ "$DEPLOY_SSH_MULTI_CALL" = "yes" ]; then
       if ! _ssh_remote_cmd "$_cmdstr"; then
         return $_err_code
       fi
@@ -282,17 +410,25 @@ then rm -rf \"\$fn\"; echo \"Backup \$fn deleted as older than 180 days\"; fi; d
       return $_err_code
     fi
   fi
+  # cleanup in case all is ok
   return 0
 }
 
 #cmd
 _ssh_remote_cmd() {
   _cmd="$1"
+
+  _ssh_cmd="$DEPLOY_SSH_CMD"
+  if [ -n "$_port" ]; then
+    _ssh_cmd="$_ssh_cmd -p $_port"
+  fi
+
   _secure_debug "Remote commands to execute: $_cmd"
-  _info "Submitting sequence of commands to remote server by ssh"
+  _info "Submitting sequence of commands to remote server by $_ssh_cmd"
+
   # quotations in bash cmd below intended.  Squash travis spellcheck error
   # shellcheck disable=SC2029
-  $Le_Deploy_ssh_cmd "$Le_Deploy_ssh_user@$Le_Deploy_ssh_server" sh -c "'$_cmd'"
+  $_ssh_cmd "$DEPLOY_SSH_USER@$_host" sh -c "'$_cmd'"
   _err_code="$?"
 
   if [ "$_err_code" != "0" ]; then
@@ -301,3 +437,26 @@ _ssh_remote_cmd() {
 
   return $_err_code
 }
+
+# cmd scp
+_scp_remote_cmd() {
+  _src=$1
+  _dest=$2
+
+  _scp_cmd="$DEPLOY_SSH_SCP_CMD"
+  if [ -n "$_port" ]; then
+    _scp_cmd="$_scp_cmd -P $_port"
+  fi
+
+  _secure_debug "Remote copy source $_src to destination $_dest"
+  _info "Submitting secure copy by $_scp_cmd"
+
+  $_scp_cmd "$_src" "$DEPLOY_SSH_USER"@"$_host":"$_dest"
+  _err_code="$?"
+
+  if [ "$_err_code" != "0" ]; then
+    _err "Error code $_err_code returned from scp"
+  fi
+
+  return $_err_code
+}