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By default, password authentication is disabled in IBM Cloud. You must connect using the project SSH private key.
Opening a SSH connection with private key is different if you run on a Windows or Linux/Mac OS machine. Choose the right method below.
Opening a SSH connection with private key is different if you run on a Windows or Linux/Mac OS machine. Choose the right method below.
Connecting with a Windows machine and Putty
1. Install [PuTTY](https://www.putty.org/) onto your system including PuTTYgen to manipulate SSH keys.
2. Save the project SSH private key into a file on your laptop using Notepad or Notepad++ (do not use MS Word or OpenOffice). You can name this file `private-key.txt`. The private SSH key is provided through the project kit or directly within your TechZone reservation page details. To help you identify the private key, it starts with `-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----`
3. Convert the SSH key into a compatible PuTTY SSH key. Open PuTTYGen. Open menu Convertions -> Import Key and open the file `private-key.txt` you just saved.
4. Save the Putty private key using button **Save Private Key** and confirm that you save it WITHOUT a passphrase. You can name the file `putty-private-key.ppk`. You can then close PuTTYGen.
5. Open PuTTY and configure the IP address/Hostname. Make sure you use the public **external IP address** provided in your reservation .
Keep port **22** and Connection type **SSH**.
Keep port **22** and Connection type **SSH**.
6. Load the private key into PuTTY. Expand the left menu Connection -> SSH -> Auth and use the Browse button to load your Putty private key `putty-private-key.ppk`.
7. (Optional) Save your configuration to avoid doing all this again next time. Go back to the left menu Session, provide a name in **Saved Sessions** and click Save. Later on you click on your saved sessions name and use the **Load** button to reload your configuration.
8. Open the SSH connection using the Open button. Answer **Yes** to the security alert window.
9. Enter your system login. Check your reservation details. It should be **cecuser**.
Your connection is now opened.
Your connection is now opened.
Connecting with a Linux / MacOS machine
1. Save the private key in a text file (eg: ~/Downloads/private-key.txt). The private SSH key is provided through the project kit or directly within your TechZone reservation page details. To help you identify the private key, it starts with `-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----`
2. Change the permissions on that file to match 600 `chmod 600 ~/Downloads/private-key.txt`
3. Open the SSH connection using the private key such as `ssh cecuser@123.123.123.123 -i ~/Downloads/private-key.txt`
[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""},"Business Unit":{"code":"","label":""},"Product":{"code":"SSNR6KN","label":"IBM Technology Zone"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8mKe0000004CUbIAM","label":"Infrastructure-\u003EIBM Cloud"}],"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":""}]
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Document Information
Modified date:
12 June 2025
UID
ibm17235049