DWShells: SSH Key Authentication

🔑 DWShells: SSH Key Authentication

Setting up SSH key authentication allows you to connect to your DWShell securely without typing your password each time. It’s faster, safer, and strongly recommended for all users.

Contents

1. What Are SSH Keys?
2. Generating SSH Keys on Linux/macOS
3. Generating SSH Keys on Windows (PuTTYgen)
4. Uploading Your Public Key to DWShells
5. Connecting with Your SSH Key

🔍 What Are SSH Keys?

SSH keys are a pair of cryptographic keys — a public key and a private key — used for secure authentication. The **public key** is stored on the server (DWShells), and the **private key** stays on your computer.

When you connect, the server verifies your identity using the private key — no password needed.

🐧 Generating SSH Keys on Linux/macOS

1. Open your terminal.
2. Run the following command:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

• You can replace ed25519 with rsa (e.g., rsa -b 4096) if preferred.

1. When prompted for a file path, press **Enter** to accept the default (usually ~/.ssh/id_ed25519).
2. Optionally set a passphrase for extra protection.
3. After completion, your keys will be located here:

~/.ssh/id_ed25519       ← Private key
~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub   ← Public key

To display your public key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Copy the full key text (starts with ssh-ed25519 or ssh-rsa).

🪟 Generating SSH Keys on Windows (PuTTYgen)

1. Download and run PuTTYgen.
2. In the "Parameters" section, select:

  * Type of key to generate: RSA
  * Number of bits in a generated key: 4096

1. Click Generate and move your mouse randomly in the blank area to create entropy.
2. Once generated:

  * Click Save private key → save as private.ppk
  * Copy the entire Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized_keys file

1. Optionally, click Save public key for backup.

📤 Uploading Your Public Key to DWShells

Send your **public key** (the contents of your id_ed25519.pub or PuTTYgen public key) to the DWShells admin team via:

• IRC message to @DWRequest bot, or
• Email to support@darkworld.network

Once verified, your key will be added to your account under:

/home/username/.ssh/authorized_keys

🔗 Connecting with Your SSH Key

Linux/macOS

Use:

ssh your_username@dwshells.darkworld.network

If your private key is stored in a custom path, use:

ssh -i /path/to/your/private_key your_username@dwshells.darkworld.network

Windows (PuTTY)

1. Open PuTTY.
2. Go to Connection → SSH → Auth.
3. Click Browse and select your private key file (private.ppk).
4. Return to Session and connect to:

Host Name: dwshells.darkworld.network
Port: 22
Connection type: SSH

1. Click Open to connect using your key.

✅ Next Steps

• If you haven’t yet connected via SSH, follow: DWShells: SSH Connection Guide
• For troubleshooting, see: DWShells: FAQ