Create and delete key pairs

An SSH key pair is a secure and convenient login authentication method. It consists of a public key and a private key. You must attach a key pair to a Linux instance before you can run the SSH command to connect to the Linux instance by using the private key.

Compared to the authentication method that uses a username and password, SSH key pairs provide more secure and reliable authentication. They not only avoid brute force attacks, but also facilitate remote login to a large number of Linux instances.

Create a new key pair

1. Log in to the KEC console.

2. In the left navigation pane, click SSH Key.

3. Click Create SSH Key.

4. Set Creation Method to Create New Key Pair, enter a key name, and then click Create.

5. Click Download.
   Note that you have only one chance to download the private key. Keep it with care.

   

Create a key pair by using an existing public key

Prerequisites

• The public key to be used must be from 2048-bit RSA public and private keys.
• The content of the public key must be prefixed with ssh-rsa. Note that the end of the string contains a space.

Procedure

1. Log in to the KEC console.

2. In the left navigation pane, click SSH Key.

3. Click Create SSH Key.

4. Set Creation Method to Use Existing Public Key, and then enter the key name and the prepared public key content.

5. Click Create.
   This method does not generate a key.

Delete key pairs

1. Log in to the KEC console.

2. In the left navigation pane, click SSH Key.

3. In the SSH key list, select one or more SSH keys to be deleted and then click Delete above the list.

4. In the dialog box that appears, click Delete.