Introduction
Encountering the “Permission Denied (Public Key)” error while trying to establish an SSH connection in Linux can be frustrating. In this article, we will guide you through the process of troubleshooting and resolving this issue. You will learn about the commands involved, their purpose, and how to use them effectively.
Step 1: Verify SSH Key Permissions
To ensure the correct permissions are set for your SSH private key, use the following command:
ls -l ~/.ssh/id_rsa
Make sure the permissions are restrictive (600 or 400) for better security. The output should resemble something like this:
-rw------- 1 username username 1766 Jun 1 09:42 /home/username/.ssh/id_rsa
Step 2: Check SSH Agent
Start the SSH agent and set the necessary environment variables by running the following command:
eval $(ssh-agent)
This will enable the agent to manage your private keys.
Step 3: Add Private Key
Add your SSH private key to the agent with the command:
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
If your private key has a passphrase, you will be prompted to enter it.
Step 4: Verify SSH Connection
Test the SSH connection to the target host by executing the following command:
ssh -T user@hostname
This command will verify if the SSH connection is successful. You should see a welcome message or a prompt indicating a successful connection, similar to this:
Welcome to XYZ Server!
Step 5: Update SSH Server Configuration
Open the SSH server configuration file for editing:
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Make sure the following options are enabled in the configuration file: PubkeyAuthentication, AuthorizedKeysFile, and PasswordAuthentication. Edit the file as needed, save, and exit the text editor.
Step 6: Restart SSH Service
To apply the changes made in the SSH server configuration, restart the SSH service by running:
sudo service ssh restart
This will ensure that the SSH server is using the updated configuration.
By following these steps, you can troubleshoot and fix the SSH Permission Denied (Public Key) error in Linux, allowing you to establish successful SSH connections.
Also, check out the next article How to Setup SSH Passwordless Login in Linux – A Comprehensive Guide.
