Generating SSH Keys for Remote Access

Before you begin: These instructions will help you generate SSH keys for secure remote access to Lambda machines.

Step 1: Open Terminal/Command Line

Open the appropriate command-line interface for your operating system:

Step 2: Verify SSH Directory Location

SSH keys should be stored in the following location based on your operating system:

If the directory doesn't exist, create it using:

Windows:

mkdir %USERPROFILE%\.ssh

macOS/Linux:

mkdir -p ~/.ssh

Step 3: Check for Existing Keys

Check if you already have an existing key pair:

Windows:

dir %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\id_rsa.pub

macOS/Linux:

ls ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

If you see id_rsa.pub, you already have a key pair and can skip the next step.

Step 4: Generate New SSH Key Pair

If you don't have an existing key pair, generate a new one using:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_wit_email@wit.edu"

When prompted:

  1. Press Enter to accept the default file location
  2. Enter a secure passphrase you'll remember
  3. Confirm your passphrase
Important Security Notice:

Never share your private key file (id_rsa). Only share the public key file (id_rsa.pub) when required.

Tip: If you're using Windows and SSH commands aren't recognized, you may need to install OpenSSH first.