The “Manage root’s SSH Keys” Interface

The interface, Manage root’s SSH Keys, is meant to enable you to add, import, as well as manage the SSH keys on your server. SSH keys are divided by the system into private and public key sets in two separate lists.

SSH keys can be used to transfer securely an account from a server, the remote server, to another server, the local or destination server.

An SSH key is the SSH (Secure Shell) network protocol’s access credential.

Generating a New Key

You need to perform the below-mentioned steps for generating a new SSH key set that incudes a private key and a public key.

1. Click Generate a New Key.

2. Enter the particular key name in the text box, Key Name (defaults to id_dsa): to set a custom key name.

When you set a custom key name, you need to manually specify the SSH key at the time of logging in to the server. In order to set the SSH key manually, you have to run the following command:

ssh user@example -i /root/.ssh/key_name

In it “user” refers to the username, and “example” refers to the IP address or the server name.

3. Carry out the following step to be able to use a password for the SSH key:

• Enter as well as confirm the new password in those text boxes that are appropriate.

It needs to be mentioned here that the system evaluates the password entered by you on a scale of 100 points. The number 0 indicates a weak password, whereas the number 100 indicates a very strong and secure password.

A minimum password strength is required by some web hosts. A web host is a web hosting company that provides the service of web hosting through which websites are made accessible over the Internet. This service is provided through various plans. Linux Dedicated Hosting Plans, Windows Shared Hosting Plans, Cloud Hosting Plans, etc. are some of the terms that describe these different hosting plans. 

With regard to the requirement for a minimum password strength, a green coloured password Strength meter shows that the password is either equal to or greater than the required password strength.

You have the option to click Password Generator in order to generate a strong password.

4. Select the key type that you desire.

• DSA – It ensures faster key generation, and signing times.

• RSA – It ensures quicker verification times.

5. Select the key size that you desire.

It needs to be mentioned here that larger key sizes offer more security, but these account for larger file sizes, as well as slower authentication times.

6. Click Generate Key. The key’s saved location gets displayed by WHM. You need to authorize the new SSH key, so that it can function.

Import Key

You must perform the following steps, if you want to import an existing SSH key.

1. Click Import Key.

2. Enter the key name in the text box, Choose a name for this key (defaults to id_dsa) in order to use a custom key name.

When you use a custom key name, you need to manually specify the SSH key at the time of logging in to the server. In order to specify the SSH key manually, you have to run the following command:

user@example -i /root/.ssh/key_name

In it, “user” is the username, and “example” is the IP address or the server name.

3. Enter the password in the text box, Private key passphrase (Needed for PPK import only) in order to import a PPK (PuTTY Key Generator) file.

4. Paste the keys, public and private, into those text boxes that are appropriate.

Private keys need to always remain on that server which generated them.

You should not enter the private key at that time when another server’s key is imported for allowing SSH connections between two servers, or for using SSH for account transfers.

5. Click Import.

Manage Your Keys

The tables for Public Keys and Private Keys display the below-mentioned information with regard to your existing keys.

• Name – It is the name of the key. The same name is shared by public and private keys.

• Authorization Status – It indicates whether you have authorized the key. You need to authorize new keys, prior to attempting to use the keys. It needs to be specified here that this column appears only in the table for Public Keys.

• Actions – You can carry out the following actions:

• Delete Key – Click it to delete the key. Subsequently, click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the key.

• View/Download Key – Click it to view or download the key. If you want to download the key, then you need to copy the contents of the text box, which appears. Then save it as a file on your computer.

• Manage Authorization – Click it to manage authorization for the key. At this stage a new interface will appear. Click Authorize to authorize the key. Click Deauthorize to deauthorize the key.

Now you are well-equipped to use the Manage root’s SSH Keys interface.

Source: https://www.htshosting.org/knowledge-base/technology/186/the-manage-root-s-ssh-keys-interface