Converting SSH Private Key Files

tilde.town authenticates user log-ins with SSH public keys instead of
passwords. 

Instructions for generating SSH public keys are provided on 
https://github.com/tildeclub/tilde.club/blob/master/docs/ssh.md
Windows users are instructed to use the free SSH client program PuTTY to
both generate SSH public keys.

However, the keys generated by the above instructions can only be used to
connect to tilde.town with PuTTY and not with other SSH clients. To use the
same key to connect to tilde.town with clients like ssh (on Linux or *BSD)
or JuiceSSH (Android), you need to convert the PuTTY private key file to
OpenSSH format with the following procedure.

1. On Windows, run the program PuTTYgen (included with the full PuTTY
   package).

2. Open the Conversions menu and select Import key.

3. Select the SSH private key file you generated for tilde.town (*.ppk).

4. Enter the passphrase for the private key file.

5. Open the Conversions menu and select Export OpenSSH key.

6. Enter a file name for the OpenSSH-format private key file. Choose a name
   that indicates the key is for tilde.town. Save the file.

7. Exit PuTTYgen.

8. Upload the saved OpenSSH private key file to the new host from which you
   want to connect to tilde.town. (On Linux or *BSD, upload the file to the 
   .ssh subdirectory in your home directory.)

9. Use the uploaded private key file with your SSH client to connect to
   tilde.town.

   Linux, *BSD:

        ssh -i .ssh/<private-key-file> tilde.town

   Android (JuiceSSH):

        - Create a new Identity for your tilde.town log-in.
        - Click Set Private Key.
        - Specify uploaded private key file or use Smart Search.
        - Select file and click OK.
        - Create a new connection for tilde.town.
        - Select the Identity created above.

--
2016 David "~papa" Meyer <papa@sdf.org>
http://tilde.town/~papa