How to Generate Key Pairs

If you are using the ssh-agent, you only need to generate one key pair. If you are using empty passwords, you may generate a key pair for each SSH connection that the software makes between two machines. Alternatively, you may generate one single key pair for use by all the connections. Complete this task for each key pair that you want to generate.

Before You Begin

Ensure that the user ID and group ID that you are using for the N1 Service Provisioning System 5.1 are the same on all of the servers in the network.

Steps

1. On the Master Server, or if you are using empty passwords and are generating key pairs for each connection, on the machine that is upstream, generate the keys.

   % ssh-keygen –t rsa

   The server prompts you to save the keys.

2. Save the keys in the default locations by pressing Return.

   The private key is saved in /User-home/.ssh/id_rsa. The public key is saved in /HOME/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.

   User-home is the home directory of the currently logged in user on the Master Server machine.

   The server prompts you for a password.

3. Determine whether you need to supply a password.

   • If you are using empty password keys, do not supply a password. Press Return to continue.

   • If you are using the ssh-agent, supply a password for the keys.