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  • Simplify the distribution of SSH Public Keys
  • Date submitted: 10/04/2008 by Jim

  • The following command can be used to simplify the distribution of Public Keys for SSH.

      cat .ssh/id_dsa.pub | ssh <user>@<host> "cat >> .ssh/authorized_keys"

    The command:

    • Displays the current public key for the machine running the command on
    • Pipes this to the ssh command logging in as <user> on <host>
    • Which runs the command cat redirecting the piped through output to the .ssh/authorized_keys file

    Couple of notes:

    • This assumes that the ssh-keygen command has been run on the local machine to generate the Public/Private Key Pair
    • Make sure the >> redirector is used so the current authorized_keys file is added to, not overwritten
    • If you are running this to a host for the first time. The confirmation to accept the fingerprint is asked for

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