What is the known_hosts file in SSH?

The known_hosts file is for verifying the identity of other systems. ssh(1) can automatically add keys to the user’s file, but they can be added manually as well. The file contains a list of public keys for all the hosts which the user has connected to.

What is authorized_keys in SSH?

The authorized_keys file in SSH specifies the SSH keys that can be used for logging into the user account for which the file is configured. It is a highly important configuration file, as it configures permanent access using SSH keys and needs proper management.

What is the known_hosts file in Linux?

The known_hosts File is a client file containing all remotely connected known hosts, and the ssh client uses this file. This file authenticates for the client to the server they are connecting to. The known_hosts file contains the host public key for all known hosts.

Is authorized_keys a file or directory?

ssh/authorized_keys: No such file or directory. ~/. ssh/authorized_keys are keys of other computers that you connected to/trust, not your own key.

Can I delete known_hosts file?

Windows with PuTTY Search for regedit.exe and open it. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/SimonTatham/PuTTy/SshHostKeys. Right click the offending key and click delete.

Is Authorized_keys public or private?

Once an SSH server receives a public key from a user and considers the key trustworthy, the server marks the key as authorized in its authorized_keys file. Such keys are called authorized keys. A private key that remains (only) with the user. The possession of this key is proof of the user’s identity.

Where is the known_hosts file?

.ssh/known_hosts
On a Mac or Linux machine – the known_hosts file is located in the . ssh/known_hosts directory.

Can I remove Known_hosts file?

Can I remove known_hosts?

Your known_hosts file still has the key from the previous IP, so when you try to log into the new IP address, SSH will complain. Instead of clearing out the entire known_hosts file, you could simply remove that one line.

Where does SSH look for authorized_keys?

sshd goes and reads the appropriate authorized_keys to work out the public keys to accept (and some other bits of info too). By default the file is located at ~/. ssh/authorized_keys .

Who should own authorized_keys?

The authorized_keys file should have 644 permissions and be owned by the user. The next time you connect with SSH you should not have to enter your password.

What is in known_hosts?

known_hosts. ssh/known_hosts file contains the SSH fingerprints of machines you’ve logged into. These fingerprints are generated from the remote server’s SSH key. When you secure shell into a remote machine for the first time, you are asked if you want to continue connecting (Figure A).

Is it possible to SSH into another server using known hosts?

If both answers are yes, then you are allowed in. Much like how the authorized_keys file is used to authenticate users the known_hosts file is used to authenticate servers. Whenever SSH is configured on a new server it always generates a public and private key for the server, just like you did for your user.

What is the difference between known_hosts and authorized_keysfile?

The known_hostsfile lets the client authenticate the server, to check that it isn’t connecting to an impersonator. The authorized_keysfile lets the server authenticate the user.

Do you add keys to the known host file?

/.ssh/known_hosts file is a local user database. This is used for authenticate the server as a host that has connected to the server before.so to answer your question, no, you don’t add, keys to the known host file, just to authorized_keys file, it will make a difference.The difference is makes is ssh via keys wont work lol.

How to configure SSH key pairs and host based authentication?

1. Key pairs and host-based authentication:- A method a discussed above. Generate rsa keys & add it to authorized_keys… 2. Host-Based authentication:- In trusted-host authentication, the SSH server does not directly authenticate a user based on something he knows or has (e.g. password or private key).