Understanding the known_hosts File: What You Need to Know When Generating SSH Keys скачать в хорошем качестве

Understanding the known_hosts File: What You Need to Know When Generating SSH Keys

Discover why your `known_hosts` file isn't generating during SSH key creation and learn its purpose and functionality for secure connections. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/75825099/ asked by the user 'Dale' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1151144/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/75825184/ provided by the user 'Jay' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4068476/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: knownhosts file not generating when ssh keys are created Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l... The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Understanding the known_hosts File: What You Need to Know When Generating SSH Keys When setting up your SSH keys, you might wonder why the known_hosts file isn't showing up in your .ssh directory as it does for your teammates. This has raised many questions, and we're here to clarify the purpose of this file and guide you through its relevance in securing your SSH connections. What is the known_hosts File? The known_hosts file is a crucial component of SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. It is not directly related to the SSH keys you generate but plays an essential role in ensuring secure connections between your machine and various SSH servers. Key Purpose of the known_hosts File Trust Establishment: This file includes the digital signatures (or fingerprints) of servers you have connected to in the past. It is created or modified when you first connect to a new host. Security Check: Every time you make an SSH connection, your SSH client checks this file to see if the host's signature is already recorded. Preventing Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: If the server's fingerprint has changed since your last connection, SSH will warn you. This protects against potential eavesdropping and ensures you're connecting to the correct server. Why isn't the known_hosts File Generating for Me? You might notice that the known_hosts file is absent in your .ssh directory when you generate SSH keys. It's important to understand that this file has nothing to do with the SSH key generation process. Here’s what you need to know: Initial Connection Requirement: The known_hosts file is automatically created or updated when you connect to a new SSH server for the first time. If you haven't connected to any server yet, the file won’t exist. Trust Verification Prompt: During your first connection attempt to a new host, you will be prompted to confirm if you trust the host. By typing "yes", the server's signature is added to your known_hosts file. Do You Need the known_hosts File? While you do not need the known_hosts file to generate SSH keys, having it is highly recommended for secure connections. Here’s why: Eases Future Connections: With the known_hosts file, you won’t receive verification prompts for trusted servers on subsequent logins. Enhanced Security: It helps safeguard your data by ensuring that you are always connecting to the intended server and not a malicious entity impersonating the server. Conclusion In summary, while the known_hosts file is not directly linked to the creation of SSH keys, it is an essential part of the trust and security framework within SSH connections. It is automatically created upon your first connection to a new host, and its presence significantly enhances your connection security. If you find that you are missing this file, simply connect to a new SSH server, and upon confirmation of trust, this file will be generated in your .ssh directory. Now, with this knowledge, you'll be better equipped to manage your SSH connections safely and efficiently!