SSH Key Authentication

These instructions assist existing users of Cheaha in getting access to Big Green / Cheaha2.

Mac OS X

• On your Mac open Terminal application.
• Run the following command on your terminal:

ssh-keygen -t rsa

• You can put a passphrase for your SSH key ( Not mandatory but highly recommended)
• A id_rsa.pub file would have been created.
• Open the file by running less ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub and copy the content.
• Press q to exit out of the file.
• Now SSH to your cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu account , and paste the content in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys using your favorite editor.
• Now log out from cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu
• Run

ssh blazerid@cheaha.rc.uab.edu

• You should have been able to login to Big Green.

Linux

• On your linux machine open Terminal application.
• Run the following command on your terminal:

ssh-keygen -t rsa

• You can put a passphrase for your SSH key ( Not mandatory but highly recommended)
• A id_rsa.pub file would have been created.
• Open the file by running less ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub and copy the content.
• Press q to exit out of the file.
• Now SSH to your cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu account , and paste the content in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys using your favorite editor.
• Now log out from cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu
• Run

ssh blazerid@cheaha.rc.uab.edu

• You should have been able to login to Big Green.

Windows

SSH Secure Shell Client

• In SSH Secure Shell, from the Edit menu, select Settings...
• In the window that opens, select Global Settings, then User Authentication, and then Keys.
• Under "Key pair management", click Generate New.... In the window that appears, click Next.
• In the Key Generation window that appears:
  • From the drop-down list next to Key Type:, select from the following:
    • If you want to take less time to initially generate the key, select DSA.
    • If you want to take less time during each connection for the server to verify your key, select RSA.
  • From the the drop-down list next to Key Length:, select at least 1024. You may choose a greater key length, but the time it takes to generate the key, as well as the time it takes to authenticate using it, will go up.
• Click Next. The key generation process will start. When it's complete, click Next again.
• In the "File Name:" field, enter a name for the file where SSH Secure Shell will store your private key. Your public key will be stored in a file with the same name, plus a .pub extension.
  • Important: You can put a passphrase for your SSH key ( Not mandatory but highly recommended)
• To complete the key generation process, click Next, and then Finish.
• At the Settings screen, click OK.
• Copy the content of .pub file generated.
• Now SSH to your cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu account , and paste the content in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys using your favorite editor.
• Now log out from cheaha.uabgrid.uab.edu
• Run

ssh blazerid@cheaha.rc.uab.edu

• You should have been able to login to Big Green.