How To Generate SSH Keys On Windows – A Simple Guide

SSH is a secure network protocol that allows you to connect to your windows and send commands to it. Using an SSH key, you can securely connect to servers in other countries. Users can control their servers remotely, send commands, and run applications as if they were physically in front of the server. This feature makes it an essential tool for system administrators and programmers.

What is an SSH Key?

This can be defined as an authentication tool for verifying the identity of hosts and users. Windows use a password-based connection when connecting to servers via SSH. The latter is considered more secure. By eliminating the need to store passwords in files, security is improved. This makes accessing a user’s password impossible for a hacked server.

The SSH key method creates a secure connection between devices by using public and private keys generated using cryptography. To establish a secure connection, both keys are needed. The private key is stored in a remote machine, while the public key is stored on the user’s device. While using an SSH key, ensure you have a reliable Windows VPS.

Why Do I Need an SSH Key?

Your PC is vulnerable to external and malevolent attacks when working between different domains and cloud-hosted systems. Using this tool is tantamount to securing a safe access and connection to servers. Each user is given a unique set of SSH keys. These keys are saved on the user’s device. SSH hosting can be made easier by utilizing Ultahost’s VPS service.

How To Create SSH Keys in Windows

  Generating SSH on Windows involves 4 easy-to-follow steps which are:

1. Launch Windows command prompt by hitting the Windows key and typing “cmd.”
2. Then type ssh-keygen and press enter.
3. After step 2, you will be asked to give your key a name and save it in a specific location. If you use the defaults, your keys will be saved as C:\User[YourUserName].ssh — in the C-drive, where your user account is stored.
4. Afterward, you will be asked to provide a passphrase. This is an important security measure that will keep your key secure. We strongly recommend that you follow through with this step. If not, just click enter.

 Your keys have been successfully generated, securely saved, and ready for immediate use. When you look in your “.ssh” folder, you will see two files: “id_rsa” (with no file extension) and “id_rsa.pub.” The first file is the private key that should be kept to yourself, while the second (public key) is the key you use to authenticate when uploading to servers.

How To Use

Following key generation, the server must be properly configured to grant users login access. Four simple steps are required for configuration:

• Navigate to the “.ssh” folder where you stored your keys.
• Open the public key file with a text editor and copy the contents to your clipboard.
• Connect to your Windows coreOS by using Device Portal.
•  Go to the SSH tab in the left pane and paste the contents you copied into a” Public Key” box. 

After configuration,To complete the process, you just need to connect your Factory OS device. This can be done in three stages:

• Open a command prompt window on your PC
• Enter this command: ssh -i C:\Users\User/.ssh/id_rsa [email protected]. Where  C:\Users\User/.ssh/id_rsa is your private key, user is the username you chose when setting up, 192.168.1.2 is your factory OS device IP address.
• Enter the password for your user if you configured your key to require a password.

Congratulations! You have completed the task and the server is now accessible. Begin your VPS hosting today with Ultahost.

Conclusion

SSH keys add an extra layer of security when connecting to servers. They are easy to create and use. Give it a try.