Configuration Files

The OpenSSH package contains several configuration files to customize it to your needs.

Configuration Files and Keys on Servers (/etc/ssh)

/etc/ssh/sshd_config

The systemwide configuration file for the sshd daemon. See man sshd_config for more information.

/etc/ssh/ssh_host_*

The public and private keys, created with the RSA-1 (ssh_host_key*), RSA, or DSA algorithm. Each pair consists of a private key (no file extension) and a public key (file extension .pub.)

Configuration Files and Keys on Clients

/etc/ssh/ssh_config

The systemwide client configuration file. See man ssh_config for more information.

/etc/ssh/known_hosts

The systemwide client file that contains a list of public keys and their clients. See man ssh_config for more information.

$HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys (RSA-1)

Contains a list of public keys for all hosts which user connected to.

$HOME/.ssh/config

Client configuration for the current user. If you specify options in this file, it overrides options from the systemwide configuration (/etc/ssh/ssh_config.) See man ssh_config for details.

$HOME/.ssh/known_hosts

Contains a list of hostnames, IP adresses, and their public keys after its first contact with a remote SSH host.

$HOME/.ssh/identity* and $HOME/.ssh/id_*

These files are the public and private keys for the client user, created with the RSA-1 (identity*), RSA, or DSA algorithm. Each pair consists of a private key (no file extension) and a public key (file extension .pub.)