Xftp supports the public key user authentication method that is an alternative way of identifying a user to a remote server instead of typing a password.

To use the public key user authentication method, a user generates a user key pair consisting of a public key (which everybody is allowed to know) and a private key (which is kept secret and not given to anyone). When the public key authentication is in progress, the private key is used by Xftp to generate a signature, and the public key is used by the SSH server to verify the signature. That is, the possession of the private key works as an identity of the user. Also, the user should register his public key to the server in order to be authenticated. For more information on the user keys, see User Keys dialog box.

A user key can be created in the SSH server or Xftp. If it is created in the server, you should import the private key to the database of Xftp. If it is created in Xftp, you should register the public key to the server.

To create a user key pair:

  1. On the Tools menu, click User Key Generation Wizard.
  2. The User Key Generation Wizard will guide you through the whole generation process.
Note: At the final step of the generation process, you can also register the public key on the remote SSH server.

To register a public key on the server:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Select the user key you want to register.
  3. Click Properties. RESULT: The User Key Properties dialog box appears.
  4. Click the Public key tab.
  5. In the list ¡°View public key format as¡±, select an appropriate format depending on the type of your remote SSH server.
  6. Click Save As a File.
Note: After the public key is saved as a file, you should copy it to the remote server. How to register the copied key into your remote SSH account is different for each server and you may find it helpful to read Step 4: Public Key Registration.

To import a private key to the database:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Click Import. RESULT: The Open dialog box appears.
  3. Select the private key file you want to import and click OK.
  4. Click OK.

To export a user key to a file:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Select the user key you want to export.
  3. Click Export. RESULT: The Save As dialog box appears.
  4. Enter a file name and click OK.
Note: The exported file is in the NetSarang User Key format and it cannot be used in the applications provided by other vendors. You may find it useful to export user keys when trying to use the same private key in Xftp installed in another computer.

To change the name of a user key:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Select a user key you want to change.
  3. Click Rename.
Note: Notice that the key name is used as a file name. You must enter only valid characters for the name.

To change the passphrase of a user key:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Select a user key.
  3. Click Properties. RESULT: The User Key Properties dialog box appears.
  4. Click the General tab.
  5. Click Change Passphrase.

To delete a user key from the database:

  1. Open the User Keys dialog box.
  2. Select the user key you want to delete.
  3. Click Delete.