CkPython

SFTP Authenticate with Password and Private Key

Demonstrates the Chilkat SFtp.AuthenticatePwPk method, which authenticates with a server that requires both a password and a private key. The arguments are the username, the password, and 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 deployments mandate two-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.

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import sys
import chilkat

success = False

#  Demonstrates the SFtp.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.

sftp = chilkat.CkSFtp()

#  Step 1: Connect the SSH transport.  Port 22 is the usual port.
port = 22
success = sftp.Connect("sftp.example.com",port)
if (success == False):
    print(sftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

#  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 = chilkat.CkSshKey()
keyText = privKey.loadText("qa_data/id_rsa")
if (privKey.get_LastMethodSuccess() == False):
    print(privKey.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

success = privKey.FromOpenSshPrivateKey(keyText)
if (success == False):
    print(privKey.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

success = sftp.AuthenticatePwPk("mySshLogin",password,privKey)
if (success == False):
    print(sftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

#  Step 3: Open the SFTP subsystem.  This must be done after authentication and before any
#  file or directory operations.
success = sftp.InitializeSftp()
if (success == False):
    print(sftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

print("Authenticated with a password and a private key.")

sftp.Disconnect()