Secure remote access is vital to protect your files and data while transferring them to and from your server. SFTP and SSH are two secure protocols that provide an additional layer of security over standard FTP. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up SFTP and SSH access, importing key pairs, and connecting to your server using these protocols.
Generating a Key Pair for SFTP & SSH
Select a Site on the Rapyd Dashboard
Navigate to Tools > File Access in the Rapyd Dashboard
Go to the SFTP & SSH tab, which is the default, as it is more secure.
Click the Create Key pair button.
Provide a name for your key pair.
After creating the key pair, you should see it listed in the dashboard.
The key pair consists of two password files: one stored on the server and one you need to download to your computer. This makes it more secure, as it's tied to your device.
Importing a Key Pair from an SSH Client
Download and install an SSH client, such as PuTTY for Windows or OpenSSH for macOS and Linux.
Open the SSH client and access the key generator (e.g., PuTTYgen for PuTTY).
Select the key type (usually RSA) and key length (2048 or 4096 bits).
Click the Generate button and follow the instructions to generate a public and private key pair.
Save the private key (e.g., "private_key.ppk") on your computer in a secure location.
Save the public key (e.g., "public_key.pub") on your computer.
Navigate to Tools > File Access on the Rapyd dashboard
Go to the SFTP & SSH tab, which is the default, as it is more secure.
Click on the Import Key pair button. Enter a Key Pair Name
Upload the Public Key file (e.g., "public_key.pub") and click Import Key.
After creating the key pair, you should see it listed in the dashboard.
Accessing files using FileZilla SFTP
Download an SFTP client, such as FileZilla
Go to Edit > Settings > SFTP > Add Keyfile
Upload the Private key you generated in previous steps (e.g., "private_key.ppk") and click OK.
Enter the following information:
Host: Your server's hostname or IP address
User: Your Rapyd username
Port: The SFTP port number (usually 22)
Click Connect, or QuickConnect, to establish an SFTP connection to your server. Once connected, you can browse, upload, and download files on your server.
Using SSH remote access
Open the terminal (macOS/Linux) or command prompt (Windows).
For Windows users, use the PuTTY application to access SSH.
Enter the following command:
ssh -i /path/to/private_key.ppk username@hostname
Replace "/path/to/private_key.ppk" with the path to your private key file, "username" with your Rapyd username, and "hostname" with your server's hostname or IP address.
Press Enter to establish an SSH connection to your server.
Once connected, you can execute commands on your server via the command line.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up secure remote access to your server using SFTP and SSH. These protocols provide a higher level of security, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. As a result, your files and data will be better protected when transferring them to and from your server. Remember that the exact steps might differ depending on your SFTP or SSH client software, so consult the relevant documentation for specific guidance.