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How to Configure Authentication that Does Not Require User Input in F-Secure SSH Client for Windows
Technical Note 1915
Last Reviewed 15-May-2004
Applies To
F-Secure SSH Client for Windows version 5.x
Summary
Technical Note 1915
Last Reviewed 15-May-2004
Applies To
F-Secure SSH Client for Windows version 5.x
Summary
This technical note describes how to configure public key authentication with an empty passphrase. Once you have configured authentication that does not require user input, you can then automate file transfers using F-Secure SSH.
Options for Configuring Authentication That Does Not Require User Input
If you need authentication that does not require user input (so that SSH, SCP or SFTP won't stop to ask for a password or passphrase), there are a couple options:
- Public key authentication with empty passphrases
- Host-based authentication
Note: This note describes how to configure public key authentication with empty passphrases. Host-based authentication is a bit more difficult. Please refer to your SSH Server manual to configure host-based authentication.
Public Key Authentication with Empty Passphrases
This option is the easier of the two. Simply establish public key authentication with an empty passphrase. (When you are creating keys and the key generator prompts you for a passphrase, just press Enter.)
Of course, before setting up an empty passphrase, you must have the knowledge to establish public key authentication.
Is this safe? Yes, it is. It is safe as long as your keyfiles for public key authentication don't get into the wrong hands. That said, it's up to you to consider if this is safe enough for your environment. If you are unsure, please refer to the technical design of SSH.
The following steps describe, in more detail, how to configure public key authentication with an empty passphrase. The steps below assume that you are using the F-Secure SSH windows client to connect to a UNIX server:
- First, connect to your UNIX server by using password authentication.
- Click Edit > Settings > User keys.
- Press Generate New Keypair.
- Choose the options you want to use for this keypair. (The defaults are typically fine.)
- When prompted for a passphrase, click Next. F-Secure SSH will warn you about an empty passphrase. (Note the text about private keys.)
- Click Upload Public Key, and then click Upload.
- Click Finish, and then click OK.
To test your public key authentication, disconnect and change "public key authentication" to be only "authentication" in the authentication methods list.
Did you connect to your server without entering a passphrase? If not, check your configuration.
