Creating & using your SSH key is done similarly across different systems but, often a bit different. It will involve your host and you creating a “key” that will pair together so you can login with better security than passwords. Read more on SSH Keys so you can understands its purpose. Then, utilize your SSH key and Windows PC apps “PuTTY“, “PuTTY Gen“, and “WinSCP” to easily connect directly to your VPS after it’s created.
Create Your VPS SSH Key
This is initially done at the time you’re creating your VPS. Methods are different across various host providers. But, here’s an example so you can understand what’s typically done to create your own SSH key for your unmanaged VPS.
Checklist to Create VPS SSH Key at SpeedyPage host provider
- If creating an unmanaged VPS for the 1st time, tap <Add Key>.
- Give key a name.
- Then, click to <Generate Key Pair>
& then assign these values: - Key Type: RSA2
- Key Size 2048 bit
- Private Key Format: PuTTY
- Click <Generate>.
- Select the key text and copy that server’s generated public key & save as a txt file named like servermydomainPublicKey.txt”
- Tap to copy “Private Key” (smart icon of a clipboard).
- IMPORTANT: This key will no longer be located on this server. So, copy that server’s generated private key & save locally as a txt file named like “servermydomainPrivateKey.txt”. It will later be used in PuttyGen App to create a *.ppk file for the local PuTTY App to use to logon.
- Click to <Save>.