SSH Key based authentication for vCenter using Putty

In my previous article I discussed about using OpenSSH for Key based authentication to vCenter. If you have missed, read HERE. Now lets discuss about using Putty for Key based authentication

Step 1: Generate Key Pair

Open Puttygen.exe and click on Generate

Once the key is generated, copy the contents.

Also, save the Public Key and Private Key in a safe place.

Step 2: Upload the key to vCenter

Paste the contents in authorized_keys file in vCenter vi SSH

vi .ssh/authorized_keys

The SSH Key based authentication works only on bash shell and not in the default applaincesh shell. SO make sure to change the default shell of vCenter

chsh -s /bin/bash root

Step 3: Enabled Key based Authentication

Open Pageant.exe. It would be minised when opened, so navigate to taskbar and open it from the trayicon.

Click on Add Key.

Select the private key(.ppk) which we exported via Step 1.

Done!
Now try opening the SSH of vCenter and you will notice it is authenticating via Key

If this does not work after the reboot of the local machine, make sure Pageant is running and the Private Key is loaded in it.