Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
C

SSH Authenticate with Password and Private Key

See more SSH Examples

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ssh.AuthenticatePwPk method, which authenticates with a server that requires both a password and a private key. The first argument is the username, the second is the password, and the third is an SshKey private key.

Note: The private-key path is relative to the application's current working directory. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: Most servers require either a password or a public key, not both — but some high-security configurations mandate multi-factor SSH, combining something you know (the password) with something you have (the key). This method satisfies that policy in one call. As always, the password should come from a secure source rather than a literal in code.

Chilkat C Downloads

C
#include <C_CkSsh.h>
#include <C_CkSshKey.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkSsh ssh;
    int sshPort;
    const char *password;
    HCkSshKey privKey;
    const char *keyStr;

    success = FALSE;

    //  Demonstrates the Ssh.AuthenticatePwPk method, which authenticates with a server that requires
    //  BOTH a password and a private key.  The 1st argument is the username, the 2nd is the
    //  password, and the 3rd is an SshKey private key.

    ssh = CkSsh_Create();

    //  Connect to the SSH server.  Port 22 is the usual SSH port.
    sshPort = 22;
    success = CkSsh_Connect(ssh,"ssh.example.com",sshPort);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        printf("%s\n",CkSsh_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSsh_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    //  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
    //  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    password = "mySshPassword";

    //  Load the SSH private key.  LoadText reads the file's text, which is then imported.
    privKey = CkSshKey_Create();
    keyStr = CkSshKey_loadText(privKey,"qa_data/id_rsa");
    if (CkSshKey_getLastMethodSuccess(privKey) == FALSE) {
        printf("%s\n",CkSshKey_lastErrorText(privKey));
        CkSsh_Dispose(ssh);
        CkSshKey_Dispose(privKey);
        return;
    }

    success = CkSshKey_FromOpenSshPrivateKey(privKey,keyStr);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        printf("%s\n",CkSshKey_lastErrorText(privKey));
        CkSsh_Dispose(ssh);
        CkSshKey_Dispose(privKey);
        return;
    }

    success = CkSsh_AuthenticatePwPk(ssh,"mySshLogin",password,privKey);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        printf("%s\n",CkSsh_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSsh_Dispose(ssh);
        CkSshKey_Dispose(privKey);
        return;
    }

    printf("Authenticated with password and private key.\n");

    CkSsh_Disconnect(ssh);


    CkSsh_Dispose(ssh);
    CkSshKey_Dispose(privKey);

    }