The ssh-keygen command is used to generate, manage, and convert authentication keys for SSH (Secure Shell) protocol.
ssh-keygen [options]
Generate a new SSH key pair:
ssh-keygen
Generate a new SSH key pair with a specific name:
ssh-keygen -f /path/to/key
Generate a new SSH key pair with a specific type and size:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
Generate a new SSH key pair with a specific comment:
ssh-keygen -C "user@host"
Convert a SSH key to OpenSSH format:
ssh-keygen -p -m PEM -f /path/to/key
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-t |
Specifies the type of key to create. |
-b |
Specifies the number of bits in the key. |
-f |
Specifies the filename of the key file. |
-C |
Adds a comment to the key. |
-N |
Specifies a new passphrase for the key. |
-p |
Changes the passphrase of the key. |
-m |
Specifies the key format to use for the key. |
-l |
Displays the fingerprint of the key. |