Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
PHP Extension

SFTP use Cert's Private Key for Authentication (Windows)

See more SFTP Examples

Demonstrates how to use the private key of a pre-installed certificate (on Windows) for SFTP authentication. The certificate's private key must be marked as "exportable" when originally installed.

Chilkat PHP Extension Downloads

PHP Extension
<?php

include("chilkat.php");

$success = false;

// This example assumes the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
// See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

$cert = new CkCert();

// Load the certificate from the Windows certificate store
$success = $cert->LoadByCommonName('my_cert_common_name');
if ($success == false) {
    print $cert->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

// Get the private key.  
$privKey = new CkPrivateKey();
$success = $cert->GetPrivateKey($privKey);
if ($success == false) {
    print $cert->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

$privKeyPem = $privKey->getPkcs8Pem();
if ($privKey->get_LastMethodSuccess() == false) {
    print $privKey->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

$sshKey = new CkSshKey();
$success = $sshKey->FromOpenSshPrivateKey($privKeyPem);
if ($success == false) {
    print $sshKey->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

// Connect to an SSH/SFTP server
$sftp = new CkSFtp();
$success = $sftp->Connect('sftp.example.com',22);
if ($success == false) {
    print $sftp->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

// Authenticate with the SSH server using a username + private key.
// (The private key serves as the password.  The username identifies
// the SSH user account on the server.)
$success = $sftp->AuthenticatePk('mySshLogin',$sshKey);
if ($success == false) {
    print $sftp->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

print 'OK, the connection and authentication with the SSH server is completed.' . "\n";

// This example is only to show the connection + authentication using a private key associated with a certificate in the Windows certificate store...

?>