SSH Key Management Tutorial

SSH keys are essential for secure remote access. Here's a guide to manage them effectively:

Generating SSH Keys

🔑 Use ssh-keygen to create a key pair:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096

• This generates a private key (.ssh/id_rsa) and a public key (.ssh/id_rsa.pub)
• Store private keys securely, never share them
• 🔒 Public keys can be placed on servers for authentication

Using SSH Keys

When connecting to a server:

1. Copy public key to the target machine:
   ssh-copy-id user@server
2. Verify access:
   ssh user@server
3. 🛡️ Use ssh -i /path/to/private_key user@server for specific key authentication

Security Best Practices

• Regularly rotate keys (🔒 Key_Rotation)
• Use strong passphrases for private keys
• 📁 Store keys in a secure directory with strict permissions
• 🔁 Disable password authentication on servers

For deeper insights, check our SSH Best Practices Guide.