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Part 2 - Configure SSH

In this guide we will configure and secure the SSH connection between you personal computer and node machine.

note

If you installed Ubuntu Desktop and do not plan to control your node from a personal computer, skip to step 3.

Choose your personal computer's operating system​

The next steps will configure Windows Terminal (or PowerShell) to connect to you node device.

Step 1 - Open Terminal (or PowerShell if using Windows 10)​

  1. Search windows for the Terminal application
  2. Right click
  3. Run as administrator

Step 2 - Install OpenSSH​

Copy/Paste this command into Terminal. To copy commands from the guide, hover over the top right corner of the gray command block and click the copy button. To paste into Terminal, right-click anywhere in the Terminal window.

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0

Step 3 - Test ability to connect to node​

  1. Copy/paste command. Before pressing enter, replace <node-user>, <node-ip>, and <ssh-port> with your information
ssh <node-user>@<node-ip> -p <ssh-port>
  1. Press enter
  2. When prompted with the authenticity warning, type yes and press Enter
  3. Then enter the node's password, press enter. You should now see your node's command line.
  4. Disconnect from node machine
exit

Example of Steps 1 - 3 1-3 Example

Step 4 - Generate SSH Keys​

SSH is more secure when using public/private keys instead of a password. In this step we will generate keys and send the public key to the node machine.

You should now be disconnected from your node and back to a Windows command prompt. Copy/paste the following command.

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096

  • When prompted for "file in which to save," press Enter

  • The passphrase is optional, but it is a good idea.

Step 5 - Copy SSH keys to node machine​

Replace <node-user>, <node-ip>, and <ssh-port> with your information

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub | ssh <node-user>@<node-ip> -p <ssh-port> "cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

If asked if you are sure you want to continue, type yes and press enter

Type your node passwords, then press enter

Step 6 - Test SSH connection with keys​

You should not be able to connect to your node using public and private keys instead of a password. Test the connection by connecting to you node with the following command. This time you will be asked for the passphrase created in Step 4.

ssh <node-user>@<node-ip> -p <ssh-port>

You should now see the command line of you node machine again.

Type exit to return to the Windows command prompt.

Type exit again to close Windows Terminal

Example of Steps 4 - 5 4-5 Example

Step 6: Simplify connection​

We will create a desktop icon to simplify logging into your node

  1. Right-click on the Windows desktop --> new --> shortcut
  2. In the "Type the location of the item" box, paste the command below.

For Windows Terminal

replace <node-user> <node-ip> <ssh-port> with your information
wt ssh <node-user>@<node-ip> -p <ssh-port>

For PowerShell

replace <node-user> <node-ip> <ssh-port> with your information
powershell ssh <node-user>@<node-ip> -p <ssh-port>
  1. Click "next"
  2. Choose any name for the shortcut
  3. Click "finish"

You should now have an icon on your desktop that will automatically opens the SSH connection to your node machine.

Example of Step 6 6 Example

Remain connected and proceed to Part 3

References