How to Use SSH Copy File to Remote Computer

SSH public key authentication is a secure method for logging into remote machines, providing better security than traditional password-based authentication. In this tutorial, we will explore the `ssh-copy-id` command, which allows you to copy your public key to a remote host and enable automated, passwordless logins.

Understanding SSH Public Key Authentication

To use SSH public key authentication, you need to generate an SSH key pair. This consists of two cryptographic keys: a private key and a public key. The private key is stored locally on your machine, while the public key is saved on the remote host in the `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` file.

Installing OpenSSH Clients

Before using the `ssh-copy-id` command, you need to ensure that the OpenSSH client package is installed on your local machine. On RHEL/Fedora/CentOS/Rocky Linux/Almalinux systems, you can install it using the following command:

```

sudo dnf install openssh-clients

```

On Debian/Ubuntu systems, use:

```

sudo apt install openssh-client

```

Using the ssh-copy-id Command

The `ssh-copy-id` command takes the following syntax: `ssh-copy-id user@host-ip`. Replace `user` with the username of the user on the remote host and `host-ip` with the IP address of the remote server.

Here is an example:

```

ssh-copy-id myuser@192.168.1.100

```

Benefits of SSH Public Key Authentication

SSH public key authentication offers several benefits, including:

* Better security: Only the user with the private key can access the remote machine.

* Automated passwordless logins: The `ssh-copy-id` command enables automated login without requiring a password.

The `ssh-copy-id` command is a powerful tool for copying your public key to a remote host and enabling automated, passwordless logins. This method provides better security than traditional password-based authentication and is ideal for environments where lots of servers require automated and passwordless logins.

Ssh copy file to remote computer