Unix in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Name

ssh-keygen

Synopsis

    ssh-keygen [options]

Generate, manage, and convert authentication keys for ssh.

Common Options

-b bits

Specify the number of bits in the key. The minimum is 512 and the default is 1024.

-B

Show the bubblebabble digest (a digest represented as a string that looks like real words) for the private or public key file specified with -f.

-c

Change the comment in the private and public key files (for RSA1 keys only).

-C comment

Specify the new comment.

-e

Read an OpenSSH private or public key file and write it in SECSH Public Key File Format to standard output for exporting to a commercial SSH.

-f file

Specify the filename of the key file.

-i

Read an SSH2-compatible unencrypted private or public key file and write an OpenSSH-compatible key to standard output. Used to import keys from a commercial SSH.

-l

Show fingerprint of public or private RSA1 key file specified with -f.

-N passphrase

Specify the new passphrase.

-p

Change the passphrase for a private key file. Prompt for the file, the old passphrase, and twice for the new passphrase.

-P passphrase

Specify the old passphrase.

-q

Operate in quiet mode.

-t type

Specify the type of key to create. Possible values of type are rsa1 for SSH1, and rsa or dsa for SSH2.

-y

Read a private OpenSSH-format file and print a public key to standard output.

GNU/Linux and Mac OS X Options

-D reader

Download the RSA public key from the smartcard in reader.

-U reader

Upload an existing RSA private key to the smartcard in reader.

Mac OS ...