What you need to know about How to Create an SSH-Key in Windows 10

Introduction:

Secure Shell (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol that allows secure communication between two networked devices. It is commonly used to access remote servers and transfer files securely. An SSH key is a pair of cryptographic keys that are used to authenticate the user and provide secure access to a remote server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating an SSH key in Windows 10.

Part 1: Installing OpenSSH Client

Before you can create an SSH key in Windows 10, you need to install the OpenSSH client. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Windows 10 PC.

Step 2: Click on “Apps”.

Step 3: Click on “Optional Features”.

Step 4: Click on “Add a feature”.

Step 5: Search for “OpenSSH Client” and select it.

Step 6: Click on “Install”.

Part 2: Creating an SSH Key

Once you have installed the OpenSSH client, you can create an SSH key by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell”.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter:

This will start the process of creating an SSH key.

Step 3: You will be prompted to enter a file name for the key. The default file name is id_rsa, but you can use any file name you like. Press Enter to accept the default file name or type a new file name and press Enter.

Step 4: You will be prompted to enter a passphrase for the key. This is an optional step, but it is highly recommended as it adds an extra layer of security to your SSH key. Type a passphrase and press Enter.

Step 5: You will be prompted to confirm the passphrase. Type the passphrase again and press Enter.

Step 6: Your SSH key has now been created. You can find it in the .ssh directory in your user folder. The public key will be in a file called id_rsa.pub and the private key will be in a file called id_rsa.

Part 3: Using the SSH Key

Now that you have created an SSH key, you can use it to access remote servers. To use the SSH key, follow these steps:

Step 1: Copy the public key to the remote server. You can do this by opening the id_rsa.pub file in a text editor, copying the contents, and pasting them into the authorized_keys file on the remote server.

Step 2: Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and type the following command:

Replace “user” with your username on the remote server and “server” with the hostname or IP address of the remote server.

Step 3: If this is the first time you are connecting to the remote server, you will be prompted to verify the authenticity of the host. Type “yes” and press Enter.

Step 4: If you set a passphrase for the SSH key, you will be prompted to enter it now. Type the passphrase and press Enter.

Step 5: You are now connected to the remote server via SSH. You can use standard Unix commands to navigate the remote server and transfer files securely.

Son:

SSH keys are an essential tool In this article, we have shown you how to create an SSH key in Windows 10 using the OpenSSH client. We have also shown you how to use the SSH key to access remote servers securely. By following these steps, you can ensure that your SSH connections are secure and your data is protected.