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Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

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banderas20
Posts: 111
Joined: 2016-11-10 15:30

Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#1 Post by banderas20 »

Hello,

I have generated a public/private key pair with Easy RSA. I have placed the public key in ~/.ssh/authorised_keys and I'm trying to connect via SSH.
Then I copy the private key into my windows host and open up Putty. I go to Connection --> SSH --> Auth and Browse for the private key.
However, when I click OPEN, nothing happens. If I try "Putty Gen Generator" to convert the format, "Import key" says "Unrecognized Key Format".

¿Why is that so? ¿Isn't it a standard?

Thanks!

arzgi
Posts: 1185
Joined: 2008-02-21 17:03
Location: Finland
Been thanked: 31 times

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#2 Post by arzgi »

banderas20 wrote:Hello,

I have generated a public/private key pair with Easy RSA. I have placed the public key in ~/.ssh/authorised_keys and I'm trying to connect via SSH.
Then I copy the private key into my windows host and open up Putty. I go to Connection --> SSH --> Auth and Browse for the private key.
However, when I click OPEN, nothing happens. If I try "Putty Gen Generator" to convert the format, "Import key" says "Unrecognized Key Format".

¿Why is that so? ¿Isn't it a standard?

Thanks!
Private key is private, it should never be moved anywhere. It's the puplic key, you transfer.

banderas20
Posts: 111
Joined: 2016-11-10 15:30

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#3 Post by banderas20 »

arzgi wrote:
banderas20 wrote:Hello,

I have generated a public/private key pair with Easy RSA. I have placed the public key in ~/.ssh/authorised_keys and I'm trying to connect via SSH.
Then I copy the private key into my windows host and open up Putty. I go to Connection --> SSH --> Auth and Browse for the private key.
However, when I click OPEN, nothing happens. If I try "Putty Gen Generator" to convert the format, "Import key" says "Unrecognized Key Format".

¿Why is that so? ¿Isn't it a standard?

Thanks!
Private key is private, it should never be moved anywhere. It's the puplic key, you transfer.
Yes. I know that. Maybe haven't made myself clear.

Public key remains on the server (~/.ssh/authorised_keys)
Private key is on the client (Windows + Putty)

cronoik
Posts: 310
Joined: 2015-05-20 21:17

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#4 Post by cronoik »

banderas20 wrote:However, when I click OPEN, nothing happens. If I try "Putty Gen Generator" to convert the format, "Import key" says "Unrecognized Key Format".
Have you tried ssh-keygen or puttygen instead of the easy rsa keys? I assume that their key files have a different format which putty can't handle.
Have a nice day!

banderas20
Posts: 111
Joined: 2016-11-10 15:30

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#5 Post by banderas20 »

cronoik wrote:
banderas20 wrote:However, when I click OPEN, nothing happens. If I try "Putty Gen Generator" to convert the format, "Import key" says "Unrecognized Key Format".
Have you tried ssh-keygen or puttygen instead of the easy rsa keys? I assume that their key files have a different format which putty can't handle.
Not yet. And I wanted to avoid that not to have too many files. But as I have read through different websites, maybe it's something that has to do with the file format, as you point out. So I won't have any other option. :(

Thanks and regards!

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debiman
Posts: 3063
Joined: 2013-03-12 07:18

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#6 Post by debiman »

from the one time i tried putty i remember that it doesn't recognize all key formats.
i think i even had to edit the key file's header manually.

banderas20
Posts: 111
Joined: 2016-11-10 15:30

Re: Putty doesn't work with Easy RSA keys

#7 Post by banderas20 »

debiman wrote:from the one time i tried putty i remember that it doesn't recognize all key formats.
i think i even had to edit the key file's header manually.
Do you remember the change?

Thanks!

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