As an IT professional, you may have come across scenarios where you need to convert PPK to PEM format for SSH authentication. Putty is one of the widely used SSH clients for Windows, and it offers a tool to convert PPK to PEM format. In this article, we will discuss how to convert PPK to PEM using Putty tools.
Understanding PPK and PEM formats
Before we dive into the conversion process, let’s understand what PPK and PEM formats are. PPK is a private key format used by Putty, while PEM is a widely used private key format in the Linux world. PEM files usually have a .pem, .key, or .cert extension, and they contain the private key in ASCII format.
PPK format
PPK format is specific to Putty and is used to store private keys. This format is not compatible with other SSH clients, which is why it needs to be converted to other formats like PEM.
PEM format
PEM format is a widely used format for storing private keys, and it’s compatible with various SSH clients. PEM files usually have a .pem, .key, or .cert extension, and they contain the private key in ASCII format.
Downloading Putty tools
To convert PPK to PEM format, we will need to download Putty tools. Putty tools come bundled with the Putty installer, which can be downloaded from the official website.
- Go to the official website of Putty and download the Putty installer.
- Install Putty on your Windows machine.
- Make sure to select the option to install Putty tools during the installation process.
One key takeaway is that Putty tools can be used to easily convert PPK format to PEM format for SSH authentication. PEM format has several advantages over PPK format, including compatibility with various SSH clients and ASCII format that makes it easy to read and edit using a text editor.
Converting PPK to PEM using Puttygen
Puttygen is a tool that comes bundled with Putty tools, and it can be used to convert PPK to PEM format.
- Open Puttygen by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Click on the ‘Load’ button and select the PPK file you want to convert.
- Enter the passphrase if the PPK file is password protected.
- Click on the ‘Save private key’ button and save the key in the PEM format.
- Enter a file name and add the .pem extension to it.
- Click on the ‘Save’ button to save the PEM file.
Key takeaway: Putty offers a tool called Puttygen that can be used to convert PPK to PEM format, which is a widely used format for storing private keys in the Linux world due to its compatibility with various SSH clients. The conversion process is simple and requires only a few steps, and it’s essential to verify the PEM file’s contents after the conversion process.
Verifying the PEM file
After converting the PPK file to PEM format, it’s essential to verify the PEM file’s contents.
- Open the PEM file in a text editor like Notepad or Sublime Text.
- The contents of the PEM file should start with ‘—–BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY—–‘ and end with ‘—–END RSA PRIVATE KEY—–‘.
- If the contents match, then the conversion process was successful.
Key takeaway: Putty tools can be used to convert PPK to PEM format, which is a widely used format for storing private keys. PEM format offers several advantages over PPK format, including compatibility with various SSH clients, ASCII format for easy editing, and being a standard format in the Linux world.
Advantages of using PEM format
PEM format has several advantages over PPK format, which makes it a popular choice for storing private keys.
Compatibility
PEM format is compatible with various SSH clients, making it a versatile format for storing private keys. PPK format, on the other hand, is specific to Putty and is not compatible with other SSH clients.
ASCII format
PEM files are stored in ASCII format, which makes it easy to read and edit them using a text editor. PPK files, on the other hand, are stored in a binary format, which makes it difficult to read and edit them.
Standard format
PEM format is a standard format for storing private keys, and it’s widely used in the Linux world. PPK format, on the other hand, is specific to Putty and is not a standard format for storing private keys.
FAQs for convert ppk to pem using putty tools
What is a PPK file, and why would I need to convert it to PEM?
A PPK (PuTTY Private Key) file is a file format used by the PuTTY SSH client. PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) is another file format used for secure communication. Converting a PPK to PEM is necessary when you want to use the private key with another SSH client other than PuTTY. It is also useful when you need to connect to a remote server securely.
How do I convert a PPK to PEM?
To convert a PPK to PEM, you need to use the PuTTYgen tool included with PuTTY. Launch the PuTTYgen tool and select the PPK file you want to convert. Next, click the “Export OpenSSH key” option and save the file as a .pem file. Your PPK file is now converted to PEM.
Can I convert multiple PPK files to PEM at once?
No, PuTTYgen only allows you to convert one PPK file to PEM at a time. You’ll need to repeat the process for each PPK file you want to convert. However, you can use PuTTYgen’s command-line interface to automate the process if you have multiple files to convert.
Do I need Putty installed to use the PuTTYgen tool?
No, you don’t need to have PuTTY installed to use PuTTYgen. The PuTTYgen tool is included in the standard PuTTY download package, but you can also download it as a standalone tool from the PuTTY website.
What if I don’t have access to the original PPK file?
If you don’t have access to the original PPK file, you won’t be able to convert it to PEM. You’ll need to find the original file or generate a new private key using PuTTYgen or another SSH client. If you don’t have the correct permissions to access the server, you’ll need to contact your system administrator for assistance.
Is it possible to convert a PEM file back to a PPK file?
Yes, you can convert a PEM file back to a PPK file using the PuTTYgen tool. Launch PuTTYgen and select the PEM file you want to convert. Next, click the “Save private key” button and save the file as a PPK. Your file is now converted back to PPK.