Several tools exist to generate SSH public/private key pairs. The following sections show how to generate an SSH key pair on UNIX, UNIX-like and Windows platforms.Generating an SSH Key Pair on UNIX and UNIX-Like Platforms Using the ssh-keygen Utility
Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent. If you created your key with a different name, or if you are adding an existing key that has a different name, replace idrsa in the command with the name of your private key file. $ ssh-add /.ssh/idrsa; Add the SSH key to your GitHub account. Add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent and store your passphrase in the keychain. If you created your key with a different name, or if you are adding an existing key that has a different name, replace idrsa in the command with the name of your private key file. Jun 13, 2019.
UNIX and UNIX-like platforms (including Solaris and Linux) include the ssh-keygen utility to generate SSH key pairs.To generate an SSH key pair on UNIX and UNIX-like platforms using the ssh-keygen utility:
*Navigate to your home directory:
*Run the ssh-keygen utility, providing as filename your choice of file name for the private key:
The ssh-keygen utility prompts you for a passphrase for the private key.
*Enter a passphrase for the private key, or press Enter to create a private key without a passphrase:
Note:
While a passphrase is not required, you should specify one as a security measure to protect the private key from unauthorized use. When you specify a passphrase, a user must enter the passphrase every time the private key is used.
The ssh-keygen utility prompts you to enter the passphrase again.
*Enter the passphrase again, or press Enter again to continue creating a private key without a passphrase:
*The ssh-keygen utility displays a message indicating that the private key has been saved as filename and the public key has been saved as filename.pub. It also displays information about the key fingerprint and randomart image.Generating an SSH Key Pair on Windows Using the PuTTYgen Program
The PuTTYgen program is part of PuTTY, an open source networking client for the Windows platform.To generate an SSH key pair on Windows using the PuTTYgen program:
*Download and install PuTTY or PuTTYgen.
To download PuTTY or PuTTYgen, go to http://www.putty.org/ and click the You can download PuTTY here link.
*Run the PuTTYgen program.
*Set the Type of key to generate option to SSH-2 RSA.
*In the Number of bits in a generated key box, enter 2048.
*Click Generate to generate a public/private key pair.
As the key is being generated, move the mouse around the blank area as directed.
*(Optional) Enter a passphrase for the private key in the Key passphrase box and reenter it in the Confirm passphrase box.
Note:
While a passphrase is not required, you should specify one as a security measure to protect the private key from unauthorized use. When you specify a passphrase, a user must enter the passphrase every time the private key is used.
*Click Save private key to save the private key to a file. To adhere to file-naming conventions, you should give the private key file an extension of .ppk (PuTTY private key).
Note:The .ppk file extension indicates that the private key is in PuTTY's proprietary format. You must use a key of this format when using PuTTY as your SSH client. It cannot be used with other SSH client tools. Refer to the PuTTY documentation to convert a private key in this format to a different format.
*Select all of the characters in the Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized_keys file box.
Make sure you select all the characters, not just the ones you can see in the narrow window. If a scroll bar is next to the characters, you aren't seeing all the characters.
*Right-click somewhere in the selected text and select Copy from the menu.
*Open a text editor and paste the characters, just as you copied them. Start at the first character in the text editor, and do not insert any line breaks.
*Save the text file in the same folder where you saved the private key, using the .pub extension to indicate that the file contains a public key.
*If you or others are going to use an SSH client that requires the OpenSSH format for private keys (such as the ssh utility on Linux), export the private key:
*On the Conversions menu, choose Export OpenSSH key.
*Save the private key in OpenSSH format in the same folder where you saved the private key in .ppk format, using an extension such as .openssh to indicate the file's content.
An SSH key is an access credential for the SSH (secure shell) network protocol. This authenticated and encrypted secure network protocol is used for remote communication between machines on an unsecured open network. SSH is used for remote file transfer, network management, and remote operating system access. The SSH acronym is also used to describe a set of tools used to interact with the SSH protocol.
SSH uses a pair of keys to initiate a secure handshake between remote parties. The key pair contains a public and private key. The private vs public nomenclature can be confusing as they are both called keys. It is more helpful to think of the public key as a 'lock' and the private key as the 'key'. You give the public 'lock' to remote parties to encrypt or 'lock' data. This data is then opened with the 'private' key which you hold in a secure place.How to Create an SSH Key
SSH keys are generated through a public key cryptographic algorithm, the most common being RSA or DSA. At a very high level SSH keys are generated through a mathematical formula that takes 2 prime numbers and a random seed variable to output the public and private key. This is a one-way formula that ensures the public key can be derived from the private key but the private key cannot be derived from the public key.
SSH keys are created using a key generation tool. The SSH command line tool suite includes a keygen tool. Most git hosting providers offer guides on how to create an SSH Key.Generate an SSH Key on Mac and Linux
Both OsX and Linux operating systems have comprehensive modern terminal applications that ship with the SSH suite installed. The process for creating an SSH key is the same between them.Generate Ssh Key Linux Github
1. execute the following to begin the key creation
This command will create a new SSH key using the email as a label
2. You will then be prompted to 'Enter a file in which to save the key.'You can specify a file location or press “Enter” to accept the default file location.
3. The next prompt will ask for a secure passphrase.A passphrase will add an additional layer of security to the SSH and will be required anytime the SSH key is used. If someone gains access to the computer that private keys are stored on, they could also gain access to any system that uses that key. Adding a passphrase to keys will prevent this scenario.
At this point, a new SSH key will have been generated at the previously specified file path.
4. Add the new SSH key to the ssh-agentPrivate Key Bitcoin
The ssh-agent is another program that is part of the SSH toolsuite. The ssh-agent is responsible for holding private keys. Think of it like a keychain. In addition to holding private keys it also brokers requests to sign SSH requests with the private keys so that private keys are never passed around unsecurly.
Before adding the new SSH key to the ssh-agent first ensure the ssh-agent is running by executing:
Once the ssh-agent is running the following command will add the new SSH key to the local SSH agent.
The new SSH key is now registered and ready to use!Generate an SSH Key on Windows
Windows environments do not have a standard default unix shell. External shell programs will need to be installed for to have a complete keygen experience. The most straight forward option is to utilize Git Bash. Once Git Bash is installed the same steps for Linux and Mac can be followed within the Git Bash shell.Windows Linux Subsystem
Modern windows environments offer a windows linux subsystem. The windows linux subsystem offers a full linux shell within a traditional windows environment. If a linux subsystem is available the same steps previously discussed for Linux and Mac can be followed with in the windows linux subsystem.Summary
SSH keys are used to authenticate secure connections. Following this guide, you will be able to create and start using an SSH key. Git is capable of using SSH keys instead of traditional password authentication when pushing or pulling to remote repositories. Modern hosted git solutions like Bitbucket support SSH key authentication.
