Adding a public SSH key for root access

Adding a Public SSH Key for Root Access

To grant root access to a server via SSH using a public key, follow these steps:

1. Obtain the Public Key:

   • Copy the contents of the public SSH key file (e.g., yourkeyname.pub). It will look like this:

   ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQC7sBaZnNypvT4tfPiEWEN2rrHKTV9pweD1BiFtOx1...I5f6GmQboRn1wpW61CjAYwNMTd yourname@yourcomputer
   

2. Access the Server:

   • SSH into the server as root.

3. Edit the authorized_keys File:

   • Navigate to the .ssh directory for the root user: /root/.ssh/.
   • Open the authorized_keys file (create it if it doesn't exist).

4. Paste the Key:

   • Paste the copied SSH public key into a new line within the authorized_keys file.

5. Save and Exit:

   • Save the file and exit the editor.

6. Key Removal (if needed):

   • To revoke access, simply delete the line containing the SSH key from the authorized_keys file and save it.

The SSH key will now have root access to the server.