Using SSH Keys To Access A MikroTik Router With An SSH Client
(PuTTY & PuTTYgen)
Introduction
In this video, I walk you through the process of setting up SSH key-based authentication to securely access your MikroTik router. We’ll use PuTTYgen to generate the SSH key pair and PuTTY to connect to the router.
You’ll learn how to:
1) Generate SSH keys using PuTTYgen
2) Upload and configure the public key on your MikroTik router
3) Use PuTTY to connect with key-based authentication
4) Re-enable password-based SSH login (optional), using a command in MikroTik
This method enhances security by reducing the reliance on password logins. Whether you’re securing your home lab or managing a production router, this tutorial will help you understand and implement SSH key-based access with confidence.
Overview
The following is an overview of the steps covered in this guide:
1) Open PuTTyGen and generate a private and public key
2) Save the private and public keys in a good location
3) Open winbox, upload and import the SSH public key
4) Open PuTTy and open and SSH connection to the router using the private key
5) Run the command to allow password login (optional)
1) Open PuTTyGen and generate a private and public key
2) Save the private and public keys in a good location
3) Open winbox, upload and import the SSH public key
4) Open PuTTy and open and SSH connection to the router using the private key
5) Run the command to allow password login (optional)