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.
When using key authentication with an SSH server, the SSH server and client compare the public key for username provided against the private key. If the public key cannot be validated against the client-side private key, authentication fails. Multi-factor authentication may be implemented with key pairs by requiring. 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.
UNIX and UNIX-like platforms (including Solaris and Linux) include the ssh-keygen utility to generate SSH key pairs.
filename your choice of file name for the private key:The ssh-keygen utility prompts you for a passphrase for the private key.
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.
filename and the public key has been saved as filename.pub. It also displays information about the key fingerprint and randomart image.The PuTTYgen program is part of PuTTY, an open source networking client for the Windows platform.


To download PuTTY or PuTTYgen, go to http://www.putty.org/ and click the You can download PuTTY here link.
As the key is being generated, move the mouse around the blank area as directed.
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.
.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. Generate ssh key linux redhat. 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.
.pub extension to indicate that the file contains a public key.ssh utility on Linux), export the private key:.ppk format, using an extension such as .openssh to indicate the file's content.