diff --git a/shlax/actions/packages.py b/shlax/actions/packages.py
index 814da6a..43615bd 100644
--- a/shlax/actions/packages.py
+++ b/shlax/actions/packages.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ class Packages:
             return os.path.join(os.getenv('HOME'), '.cache')
 
     async def update(self, target):
+        if not target.islocal:
+            return await target.rexec(self.cmds['update'])
+
         # run pkgmgr_setup functions ie. apk_setup
         cachedir = await getattr(self, self.mgr + '_setup')(target)
 
diff --git a/shlax/cli.py b/shlax/cli.py
index a40b741..4fac0fb 100644
--- a/shlax/cli.py
+++ b/shlax/cli.py
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ class TargetArgument(cli2.Argument):
         super().__init__(cmd, param, doc=self.__doc__, default=Target())
         self.alias = ['target', 't']
 
+    def cast(self, value):
+        from shlax.targets.ssh import Ssh
+        if '@' in value:
+            user, host = value.split('@')
+            return Ssh(host=host, user=user)
+
 
 class Command(cli2.Command):
     def setargs(self):
@@ -45,10 +51,16 @@ class Command(cli2.Command):
 
 
 class ActionCommand(cli2.Command):
+    def setargs(self):
+        super().setargs()
+        self['target'] = TargetArgument(
+            self,
+            inspect.Parameter('target', inspect.Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY),
+        )
+
     def call(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.target = self.target(*args, **kwargs)
-        from shlax.targets.base import Target
-        return super().call(Target())
+        return super().call(self['target'].value)
 
 
 class ConsoleScript(Group):
diff --git a/shlax/targets/base.py b/shlax/targets/base.py
index 0b555b3..1e8a843 100644
--- a/shlax/targets/base.py
+++ b/shlax/targets/base.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Target:
         self.output = Output()
         self.parent = None
         self.root = root or os.getcwd()
+        self.islocal = getattr(self, 'islocal', True)
 
     def __str__(self):
         return 'localhost'
diff --git a/shlax/targets/ssh.py b/shlax/targets/ssh.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3dd707
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shlax/targets/ssh.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from .base import Target
+
+
+class Ssh(Target):
+    def __init__(self, *actions, host, user=None):
+        self.host = host
+        self.user = user
+        self.islocal = False
+        super().__init__(*actions)
+
+    async def exec(self, *args, user=None, **kwargs):
+        _args = ['ssh', self.host]
+        if user == 'root':
+            _args += ['sudo']
+        _args += [' '.join([str(a) for a in args])]
+        return await self.parent.exec(*_args, **kwargs)