SSH .key file

[asp]

Hi all,

When setting up a sftp connection for file-transfer, do we enter the header/footer from the .key SSH private key file? Or just the actual key string?  

Thanks.

[rushikeshvartak · Accepted solution]

When setting up an SFTP connection for file transfer using an SSH private key, you need to include the entire contents of the .key file, including the header and footer. The header and footer are essential parts of the SSH private key and are required for the key to be correctly recognized and used for authentication.

Here’s what a typical SSH private key looks like:

-----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----
<Your actual key string>
-----END OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----

Make sure to:

1. Include the BEGIN and END lines exactly as they appear in the file.
2. Include the actual key string in between these lines without any modifications.

Leaving out the header/footer or modifying the key string can result in authentication failures when attempting to establish the SFTP connection.