Secure your SSH Logins on Linux - Steps to Enable Passwordless Login

 Enable Passwordless SSH Logins on Linux

      Passwordless SSH logins on Linux allow you to connect to a remote server without having to enter a password. Instead, you use an SSH key pair, which consists of a private key that is stored on your local computer and a public key that is stored on the remote server. When you try to connect to the remote server, the server uses the public key to authenticate you, and if the key matches the private key on your local computer, you are granted access without being prompted for a password.

    This method of authentication is more secure than using a password because it is less susceptible to brute-force attacks and other forms of password cracking. Additionally, it allows for automated connections between systems, which is useful for tasks such as backups and automation scripts. By enabling passwordless SSH logins, you can simplify and streamline your workflow, while also improving the security of your system.

 

To enable passwordless SSH logins on Linux, you need to follow these steps:

1.    Generate SSH Key Pair:

· Open the terminal on your Linux system.

· Type the following command to generate an SSH key pair:

· Press the Enter key to accept the default options for the key pair.

· This command will generate two files in the ~/.ssh directory: id_rsa (private key) and id_rsa.pub (public key).

 

2.    Copy Public Key to the Remote Server:

· Type the following command to copy the public key to the remote server:

· Replace "username" with your username and "remote_server" with the IP address or hostname of the remote server.

· Enter your password when prompted.

· This command will add the public key to the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file on the remote server.

 

3.    Test the Connection:

· Type the following command to connect to the remote server:

 

· Replace "username" with your username and "remote_server" with the IP address or hostname of the remote server.

· You should now be able to connect to the remote server without entering a password.

 

4.    Optional: Disable Password Authentication:

· Open the SSH configuration file on the remote server:

· Find the line that says "PasswordAuthentication" and change its value to "no".

· Save and close the file.

· Restart the SSH service

· From now on, you will only be able to connect to the remote server using your SSH key pair, and password authentication will be disabled.

That's it! You have now enabled passwordless SSH logins on your Linux system.