SSH key without a password

To set up a passwordless SSH connection for the root user you need to have root access on the server. Easiest method is to temporarily allow root to log in over ssh via password. One way or another you need root access on the server to do this. If you do not have root access on the server, contact the server administrator for help.

On the client (where you ssh FROM)

First make a ssh key with no password. I highly suggest you give it a name rather then using the default ssh-keygen -f foo

When you are prompted for a password, just hit the enter key and you will generate a key with no password.

Next you need to transfer the key to the server. Easiest method is to use ssh-copy-id . To do this you must temporarily allow root to ssh into the server.

On the server (where you ssh TO)

edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config Make sure you allow root to log in with the following syntax PasswordAuthentication yes PermitRootLogin yes Restart the server

Restart the ssh server sudo service ssh restart Set a root password, use a strong one sudo passwd

On the client :

From the client, Transfer the key to the server ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/foo root@server change "foo" the the name of your key and enter your server root password when asked.

Test the key

ssh -i ~/.ssh/foo root@server Assuming it works, unset a root password and disable password login.

On the server :

Reset the root passwords expiry sudo passwd -l root Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config``

Change the following : PasswordAuthentication no PermitRootLogin without-password Restart the ssh server sudo service ssh restart

On the client (Test):

You should now be able to ssh in with your key without a password and you should not be able to ssh in as any user without a key.