SSH Communications Security
Index
SSH Home page
Previous Next Up [Contents] [Index]

    Introduction >>
    Configuration >>
    Connecting >>
        Quick Connect
        Profiles >>
        Key Generation >>
        Connecting to a Remote Host Computer>>
        Uploading Your Public Key >>
            Manually Copying the Key File
            Manually Editing the Authorization File
        Using Public-Key Authentication
        Command Line Options
    Terminal Window >>
    File Transfer >>
    Toolbar Reference >>
    Menu Reference >>
    Advanced Information >>
    Troubleshooting >>
    Appendices >>

Manually Editing the Authorization File

After you have uploaded your public key to the remote host computer, connect to the host using the SSH Secure Shell client's terminal window. Your home directory should contain a .ssh2 subdirectory (note that the first character of the folder name is a full stop).

First make sure that your current directory is your home directory. Type the following command after the remote host computer command prompt and press the Enter key:

cd

Then enter the .ssh2 subdirectory by issuing the following command after the command prompt:

cd .ssh2

The .ssh2 directory should contain a text file called authorization. You have to edit that file and add your public key file name on a separate line in that file. If the authorization file does not yet exist, you will create it now.

Start your favorite text editor by typing authorization as a parameter after the name of the text editor. For example, if your favorite text editor is Pico, type the following after the remote host computer's command prompt:

pico authorization

When in the text editor, add a new line containing the word key, a space and the public key file name. For example, if the public key file name is public_key.pub, add the following line to the authorization file:

key public_key.pub

Now save the authorization file and exit the text editor. When you login the next time, public-key authentication should be working. If it is not, check that you have typed the public key file name correctly in the authorization file, and that the correct public key file is located in the .ssh2 directory on the remote host computer.

Previous Next Up [Contents] [Index]


[ Contact Information | Support | Feedback | SSH Home Page | SSH Products ]

Copyright © 2001 SSH Communications Security Corp
All rights reserved.
Copyright Notice