Generate SSH key in Linux

You can generate SSH key pair in Linux using the ssh-keygen command.

You will be asked for a file in which the key should be saved and passphrase (same as password) for the key.

whb@host: ssh-keygen -t dsa
Generating public/private dsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/whb/.ssh/id_dsa):
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in id_dsa.
Your public key has been saved in id_dsa.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
11:9e:ef:f2:14:a9:b9:c8:32:9c:b1:c3:c1:f5:d5:61 whb@host

This will create a private key saved in /home/whb/.ssh/id_dsa and a public key saved in /home/whb/.ssh/id_dsa.pub

The passphrase is used every time you connect via SSH.

[alert style="danger"]You should never disclose your private SSH key. It’s only legitimate to ask for a public SSH key, it is absolutely safe to provide it.[/alert]