Setting up ssh shared keys

Question

Hi,
I'm trying to setup shared keys on my MacBook Pro OS X 10.4.11 so that I can rsync it with another linux box without entering a password. I was following instructions at http://freebsd.peon.net/quickies/21/ but couldn't find the /.ssh/authorized_keys on the mac. Creating that folder didn't make any difference.
Anyone knows where that "authorized_keys" file is or should go in OS X?
Btw, I'm very new to OS X and linux.
Thanks,
Alex

Answer 1

public key goes on the ssh server you are connecting to. It should be listed in the .ssh/authorized_keys
Private key stays stays on the machine(s) you are connecting from.
So as an example;
On the box you are connecting to,(well call it SSHserver) lets assume you have a user named "sshserveruser"
make a directory within "sshserveruser"'s home directory named .ssh (more than likely it is there)
If it is not there you can just mkdir .ssh
On either the mac or linux box create your public and private key set.
Get the public key you just made and on the "SSHserver" add it to the authorized_keys file located within the sshserveruser/.ssh directory
You can do this by;
"cat pathand_name_of yourpublickey >> homedirectory_of_sshserveruser/.ssh/authorizedkeys"
This will add the public key to authorized_keys file without overwriting anything.
Now back on the box you are going to connect FROM, (with your private key)
from terminal type
ssh -l sshserveruser@sshserver -i locationof_your_privatekey
that should make your connection.
If you want to restrict access to the SSH server to key only you must modify the sshd_conf in the etc directory.
PermitRootLogin no
PubkeyAuthentication yes
PasswordAuthentication no
ChallengeResponseAuthentication no
PAMAuthenticationViaKbdInt no
But make sure your keys work first.