Generating and Exchanging SSH Keys for Secure Access

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Generating and Exchanging SSH Keys for Secure Access

Understanding the creation and exchange of SSH keys is a key concept to grasp as a new system administrator. In this lab, we will generate keys on two systems using the `ssh-keygen` utility and learn how to exchange and verify the keys with a remote system using `ssh-copy-id` and associated key files on each. At the end of this lab, you will understand how to create secure keys for remote access, how to exchange them, and where to store them on each system involved in the chain.

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Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Sep 20, 2025

Duration

15m

Challenge

Create the Key on Server 1
- In your terminal, log in to Server 1.
- Change to the .ssh directory.
- Generate a key for Server 1.
- List the contents of the id_rsa.pub file.
- Copy the output of this command to your clipboard.
(See the Guide and videos for the commands!)
Challenge

Create the Key on Server 2
- Log in to Server 2.
- Change to the .ssh directory.
- Install the nano text editor.
- Open the authorized_keys file in nano.
- Add the key you just generated to the file.
(See the Guide and videos for the commands!)
Challenge

Exchange the SSH Keys between the Servers
- In your Server 2 terminal window, create a new key.
- List the contents of the id_rsa.pub file.
- Copy the output of this command to your clipboard.
- Log out of Server 2.
- Install nano.
- Open the authorized_keys file in nano.
- Add the key you just generated to the file.
(See the Guide and videos for the commands!)
Challenge

Test the Configuration
- Attempt to log in to Server 2 from Server 1 without a password.
- Attempt to log in to Server 1 from Server 2 without a password.
(See the Guide and videos for the commands!)

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Pluralsight Skills

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