

To do this, we can use a special utility called ssh-keygen, which is included with the standard OpenSSH suite of tools. The first step to configure SSH key authentication to your server is to generate an SSH key pair on your local computer. The diagram shows a laptop connecting to a server, but it could just as easily be one server connecting to another server. If the client can prove that it owns the private key, a shell session is spawned or the requested command is executed.Īn overview of the flow is shown in this diagram: When a client attempts to authenticate using SSH keys, the server can test the client on whether they are in possession of the private key. The key is added to a special file within the user account you will be logging into called ~/.ssh/authorized_keys. The public key is uploaded to a remote server that you want to be able to log into with SSH. This property is employed as a way of authenticating using the key pair. The public key can be used to encrypt messages that only the private key can decrypt. The associated public key can be shared freely without any negative consequences.

As an additional precaution, the key can be encrypted on disk with a passphrase. Any compromise of the private key will allow the attacker to log into servers that are configured with the associated public key without additional authentication. The private key is retained by the client and should be kept absolutely secret. Each key pair consists of a public key and a private key. SSH key pairs are two cryptographically secure keys that can be used to authenticate a client to an SSH server. Although there are other methods of adding additional security ( fail2ban, etc.), SSH keys prove to be a reliable and secure alternative. Modern processing power combined with automated scripts make brute forcing a password-protected account very possible.
#SSH COPY KEYS TO ANOTHER COMPUTER PASSWORD#
The most basic of these is password authentication, which is easy to use, but not the most secure.Īlthough passwords are sent to the server in a secure manner, they are generally not complex or long enough to be resistant to repeated, persistent attackers. How Do SSH Keys Work?Īn SSH server can authenticate clients using a variety of different methods. For this reason, this is the method we recommend for all users. SSH keys provide an easy, yet extremely secure way of logging into your server. While there are a few different ways of logging into an SSH server, in this guide, we’ll focus on setting up SSH keys. When working with a Linux server, chances are, you will spend most of your time in a terminal session connected to your server through SSH. SSH, or secure shell, is an encrypted protocol used to administer and communicate with servers.
#SSH COPY KEYS TO ANOTHER COMPUTER HOW TO#
How To Configure SSH Key-Based Authentication on a Linux Server | System Configurations Helpers System Configurations Helpers Drible // Marketing Digital & Branding View on GitHub How To Configure SSH Key-Based Authentication on a Linux Server Introduction
