How to Add an SSH Key to Your Hosting Account

Once you've generated an SSH key pair, you can upload your public key to your dotCanada account to enable password-free, secure SSH logins.

Adding Your Key in cPanel

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Navigate to Security > SSH Access.
3. Click Manage SSH Keys.
4. Click Import Key.
5. Give your key a name (e.g., my_laptop).
6. Paste the contents of your public key file (id_rsa.pub) into the Public Key field. You can get its contents by running: cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
7. Click Import.

Authorizing the Key

1. After importing, return to the Manage SSH Keys page.
2. Find your key under Public Keys and click Manage.
3. Click Authorize to enable it.

Testing Your Connection

Once authorized, test your key-based login by running: ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa username@yourdomain.com

If everything is set up correctly, you'll connect without being asked for a password. You can also set up your ~/.ssh/config file to simplify future connections.

If you're having trouble getting your key authorized or connecting, contact our support team and we'll be happy to help.