Creating SSH2 key pairs

To create your own Private and Public key for SSH2 connections

  1. On the menu bar, click Tools > Global Options > Security > SSH2 Security  and click on theCreate identity file button.

  2. Choose an RSA or DSA Key Type.

  3. Click Next.

  4. Enter the same passphrase in the Passphrase and Confirm Passphrase boxes. The passphrase can be any combination of characters and spaces.  

  5. Click Next.

  6. In the Private key filename box, type or click the browse button to select a path where you want to store your private key.

  7. Type a name for the key at the end of the path.   

  8. In the Public key filename box, type or click the browse button to select a path where you want to store your public key.  Use the same name you chose in step 10 and add ".pub" at the end if it's not there already.

  9. Choose a Key length between 1024 and 4096 bits.  Shorter keys speed connections but are less secure, longer keys are more secure but slow connections.

  10. Click Finish.  CuteFTP will generate the keys.  Longer keys take more time to generate.

  11. CuteFTP Professional will display the path and name of the keys.  If you want CuteFTP to use the keys just generated click Yes.

  12. Click OK.

 

Note

For added security, you can clear the Passphrase and Confirm passphrase fields in the SSH2 Security page.  CuteFTP will prompt you for the identity file’s secret key passphrase when needed upon connecting to an SFTP site.

 

Note

CuteFTP only supports two algorithms for SSH2 keys ssh-dss (DSA) and ssh-rsa (RSA). A DSA key is required for SSH2, an RSA key is recommended.