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Configure SSH for HashiCorp Vault Authentication

In this hands-on lab, you will be required to configure a HashiCorp Vault to generate SSH one-time passwords for a client on request. In order to achieve this, we will need to configure both the SSH Client, and the HashiCorp Vault servers.

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Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 2h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 28, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Unseal the Vault and Log in with the Root Token

    1. Retrieve the vault keys.
    2. Unseal the vault.
    3. Log in with the Initial Root Token.

  2. Challenge

    Enable SSH Secrets Engine and Provide Access to `ssh/creds/otp_role`

    1. Enable SSH Secrets engine.
    2. Create an otp_role with key type otp.
    3. Create a policy file to provide access to ssh/creds/otp_role.
    4. Write a policy based on the otp-policy.hcl file.

  3. Challenge

    Enable the `userpass` Authentication Method

    1. Enable userpass.
    2. Create a user and assign the otp-policy.

  4. Challenge

    Install `vault-ssh-helper` and Configure SSH

    1. On the SSH Client server, download vault-ssh-helper.
    2. Add the ubuntu user.
    3. Unzip the vault-ssh-helper_0.1.6_linux_amd64.zip file and move it to /usr/local/bin.
    4. Update the permissions on the vault-ssh-helper binary.
    5. Change ownership of the binary from the cloud_user, to the root user, and root group.
    6. Create a new directory named vault-ssh-helper.
    7. Create a configuration file for vault-ssh-helper.
    8. Modify the pam.d/sshd configuration file.
    9. Modify the sshd configuration file.
    10. Restart sshd to apply the changes.
    11. Run vault-ssh-helper verification.

  5. Challenge

    Log in with the `userpass` Credentials, and Generate the One-Time Password

    1. On the Vault server, log in with the userpass credentials.
    2. Create a one-time password and copy the key for later use.
    3. From the Client server, use the one-time password to connect to the SSH Client server.
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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

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Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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