Connecting to a Linux VM via SSH

If you do not have OpenSSH installed yet, install it by following this guide.

1. Run cmd.exe or powershell.exe (make sure to update PowerShell first).

2. Use the ssh-keygen command to create a new key. Run this command:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519
   

   After you run the command, you will be asked to specify the names of files where the keys will be saved and enter the password for the private key. Press Enter to use the default name and path suggested by the command.

   The key pair will be created in the current directory. The public key will be saved in a .pub file.

Create keys using the PuTTY app:

1. Download and install PuTTY.

2. Make sure that the directory where you installed PuTTY is included in PATH:

   1. Right-click My computer. Click Properties.
   2. In the window that opens, select Additional system parameters, then Environment variables (located in the lower part of the window).
   3. Under System variables, find PATH and click Edit.
   4. In the Variable value field, append the path to the directory where you installed PuTTY.

3. Launch the PuTTYgen app.

4. Select EdDSA as the pair type to generate. Click Generate and move the cursor in the field above it until key creation is complete.

   

5. In Key passphrase, enter a strong password. Enter it again in the field below.

6. Click Save private key and save the private key. Do not share its key phrase with anyone.

7. Save the key to a text file. To do this, copy the single-line public key from the text field to a text file named id_ed25519.pub.

1. Run cmd.exe or powershell.exe.

2. Output the file contents:

   type C:\Users\<username>\.ssh\<key_name>.pub
   

   Where:

   • <username>: Your Windows account name, such as User.
   • <key_name>: Key name, such as id_ed25519 or id_rsa.

   The command will output the public key. To copy the key, select and right-click it. For example: ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5ABFLIFyapYheN7OZNhTaNqEHefjmU5mtzK********+gRPCz.

3. You can copy the file contents right to the clipboard:

   type C:\Users\User\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | clip
   

   Paste the public key into the SSH key field when creating a new VM in the management console.

Make sure that the Windows account has read privileges on the folder containing the keys.

To connect to the VM, execute the following command in the command line:

ssh <username>@<VM_public_IP_address>

Where <username> is the VM account username.

If you have multiple private keys, specify the one you need:

ssh -i <key_path\key_file_name> <username>@<VM_public_IP_address>

If this is the first time you connect to a VM, you will see a warning about an unknown host:

The authenticity of host '130.193.40.101 (130.193.40.101)' cannot be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:PoaSwqxRc8g6iOXtiH7ayGHpSN0MXwUfWHk********.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

Type yes in the command prompt and press Enter.

Establish a connection using the PuTTY app:

1. Run the Pageant application.
   1. Right-click on the Pageant icon in the task bar.
   2. In the context menu, select Add key.
   3. Select a PuTTY-generated private key in the .ppk format. If a password is set for the key, enter it.
2. Run PuTTY.

   1. In the Host Name (or IP address) field, enter the public IP address of the VM you want to connect to. Specify port 22 and SSH as the connection type.

      

   2. In the tree on the left, select Connection → SSH → Auth.

   3. Set the Allow agent forwarding option.

      

   4. In the tree on the left, select Connection → SSH → Auth → Credentials.

   5. In the Private key file for authentication field, select the file with the private key.

      

   6. Go back to the Sessions menu. In the Saved sessions field, enter any session name and click Save. The session settings are saved under the specified name. You can use this session profile to connect using Pageant.

      

   7. Click Open. If this is the first time you connect to a VM, you might see a warning about an unknown host:

      

      Click Accept. A terminal window opens suggesting that you enter the login of the user on whose behalf the connection is being established. Type the username that you specified when creating the VM and press Enter. If everything is configured correctly, the connection with the server will be established.

      

If you saved the session profile in PuTTY, you can use Pageant to establish a connection in the future:

1. Right-click on the Pageant icon in the task bar.
2. Select the Saved sessions menu item.
3. In the saved sessions list, select the necessary session.