What is OpenSSH?
OpenSSH is a set of computer programs used for secure communication over networks using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. OpenSSH is widely used by system administrators for managing remote systems. It is a default tool on many Linux distributions and can be used on other operating systems such as Windows.
What is PEM?
PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) is a base64 encoded format for certificates, keys, and other cryptographic data. PEM is used by different cryptographic systems, such as SSL/TLS certificates and OpenSSH keys. PEM files usually have extensions such as .pem, .crt, .cer, and .key.
Converting an OpenSSH key to PEM format may be necessary for compatibility reasons. PEM is a base64 encoded format for certificates, keys, and cryptographic data used in different cryptographic systems. OpenSSL can be used to convert an OpenSSH private key and public key to PEM format. It’s important to have the correct permissions to access the OpenSSH key file, keep the original file intact, and verify that the new PEM file was created successfully and contains the correct data.
Why Convert OpenSSH to PEM?
Sometimes you may need to convert an OpenSSH key to PEM format for compatibility reasons. For example, you may need to use an OpenSSH key with a system that only supports PEM format.
Converting OpenSSH to PEM
To convert an OpenSSH key to PEM format, you can use the OpenSSL command-line tool. Here are the steps involved:
- Open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where the key file is stored.
- Type the following command to convert the OpenSSH private key to PEM format:
openssl rsa -in <filename> -outform pem -out <newfilename>.pem - Type the following command to convert the OpenSSH public key to PEM format:
ssh-keygen -f <filename> -e -m pem > <newfilename>.pem
Tips for Successful Conversion
- Make sure you have OpenSSL installed on your system.
- Ensure that you have the correct permissions to access the OpenSSH key file.
- Keep the original key file intact and create a new file in PEM format.
- Verify that the new PEM file was created successfully and contains the correct data.
FAQs for openssh convert to pem
What is Openssh?
OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) is a set of computer programs providing encrypted communication between two or more computers over an insecure network. It was originally developed as a secure alternative to Telnet and other insecure remote shell protocols.
What is pem in Openssh?
A PEM file is a container format that can include different types of cryptographic objects, such as private keys, public keys, and certificates. PEM stands for Privacy Enhanced Mail, and it was originally developed as a format for securely sending email messages.
Why do I need to convert Openssh to pem?
There are several reasons why you might need to convert an OpenSSH private key to a PEM format. For example, you might need to use the key with a different type of encryption or with a different program that only supports PEM format. Alternatively, you might be working with a cloud service provider that requires PEM format for its authentication keys.
How do I convert Openssh to pem?
To convert an OpenSSH private key to PEM format, you can use the ssh-keygen command with the -m flag set to pem. For example, to convert a key file named id_rsa to PEM format, you would run the command “ssh-keygen -m PEM -f id_rsa -p”. This will prompt you to enter a new passphrase for the key file. Once you’ve entered the new passphrase, ssh-keygen will convert the key from OpenSSH format to PEM format.
Can I convert a public key from Openssh to pem?
No, it is not possible to convert a public key from OpenSSH format to PEM format, as a public key does not contain any sensitive information that needs to be encrypted. However, you can copy your public key to a PEM file by simply copying and pasting the contents of the key file into a new text file and saving it with a .pem file extension. The resulting file will be a valid PEM file containing your public key.