Configuring SSH Public Key Authentication
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=529820481. Edit your SSH configuration
> vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
*Change PasswordAuthentication yes to PasswordAuthentication no
*Uncomment the below
RSAAuthentication yes
PubkeyAuthentication yes
AuthorizedKeysFile .ssh/authorized_keys
2.Create your Public Key
> ssh-keygen
Note: Enter a Passphrase to unlock this key, this will be treated as your login password.
3. Add your public key to server’s authorized_keys
> cd ~/.ssh
> cp id_rsa.pub authorized_keys
4. Restart your ssh service
> service sshd restart
After you have setup your Public Key on your server you will then want to create a public key on all your servers / workstation you wish to connect via SSH using the ssh-keygen command, once you have generated a public key grab the data in your id_rsa.pub and place it on a new line on the servers ~/.ssh/authorized_keys, allows SSH to check which Keys are allowed to connect.
Security Tip: By placing a passphrase on your key this will force passphrase to be needed at each login, this way if someone happens to gain access to your keys they still need your passphrase (an extra layer of security), but if they do not have the key the passphrase is not use as they key is also needed (secure is comprimised due to brute force).
