Key pairs console¶
Overview¶
The Key Pair service enhances the security of virtual machine instances by providing a mechanism for secure, passwordless authentication using SSH keys. It is an essential feature for users who need to access their instances remotely and securely.
Select Compute > Key Pairs to view the key pairs console.
The console lists all key pairs in your project and lets you view, edit, and delete key pairs. You can select key pairs from the console to view details and copy the public key.
Select Create Keypair to generate or upload a new key pair.
Warning
SSH key pairs contain confidential authorization information. Do not share your private keys. Do store your private keys securely.
Key pair details¶
Here's a table summarizing the properties and attributes that you should understand in order to work with key pairs in the Compute service:
| Property/Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A unique name identifying the key pair, used for reference and management. |
| Fingerprint | A hash value that uniquely identifies the public key, used for verifying the key pair's integrity. |
| Public Key | The public key component of the key pair, used for encrypting data and authenticating the user. |
| Private Key | The private key component of the key pair, used for decrypting data. This is only available when the key pair is created and should be stored securely by the user. |
| User ID | The ID of the user who owns the key pair, linking the key pair to a specific user account. |
| Type | The type of key pair, typically ssh for SSH key pairs used for accessing instances. |
Understanding these properties and attributes helps you effectively manage key pairs, ensuring secure access to instances and proper authentication for cloud operations.