"Server" refers to the computer you are trying to connect to. (Ex. Raspberry Pi)

"Client" refers to the computer you are connecting from. (Ex. Desktop PC)

If you have not generated a private and public key, known as a key pair previously on this computer then follow these instructions. Otherwise skip to the On the Sever Machine section.

1. Open the Terminal application or Windows PowerShell
2. Create a SSH keypair by running the code contained in the block below (note: the program will prompt you several times - use the defaults by typing the "enter" key):

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519
   

3. Enter the passphrase to encrypt the private key. Re-enter the same passphrase and press Enter to finish generating the key pair.
4. Copy the public key file that was created in the .ssh directory in your user account (the file should be named: id_ed25519.pub). This key will be added to the sever machine in the following steps.

1. Install OS on Raspberry Pi
2. Boot it up and connect to internet
3. Open the Terminal application
4. Create a .ssh directory in the user's home directory

   mkdir -m 700 ~/.ssh
   

5. Within the .ssh directory create a file named authorized_keys

   touch ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
   

6. Open the authorized_keys file using a text editor such as Text Editor, Notepad or VIM. Paste the client public key into the authorized_keys file as a new line. Save the file and close

   vim ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
   

7. Change the permissions on authorized_keys so that the user can only read and write

   chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
   

8. Copy the server public key in the directory /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key.pub. Can use the command cat to print key to the terminal as shown below

   cat /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key.pub
   

9. Find a way to send this public key to your client computer, for example with a USB Flash Drive, email, messaging app
10. Determine the Server IP address. You can use the command

    hostname -I
    

11. To enable SSH on Raspberry Pi
    • Select the Raspberry Menu Icon
    • Select Preferences > Raspberry Pi Configuration
    • Click the Interfaces tab
    • Click the Enabled radio button for SSH

1. In the .ssh directory, create a file called known_hosts. Note that it has no file extension. Edit the known_hosts file using a text editor and paste the public key of the server into this file. Save the file and close

   vim ~/.ssh/known_hosts
   

2. In terminal or Windows PowerShell enter the command

   ssh [user]@[sever IP]
   

3. The connection will prompt for the ssh keypair password created earlier

Once the connection is established, you can manage the server remotely from your computer. :)