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VBScript

Get the SSH Server Host Key Fingerprint

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Demonstrates the Chilkat Ssh.GetHostKeyFP method, which returns the connected server's host-key fingerprint. The first argument is the hash algorithm (for example SHA256 or MD5), the second controls whether the key type is included, and the third controls whether the hash name is included. The digest is Base64 without trailing padding.

Background: The host-key fingerprint identifies the server. Comparing it against a known-good value is how a client implements host-key pinning — detecting man-in-the-middle attempts or a changed server key. SHA256 is the modern default; MD5 fingerprints are still seen in older tooling but are weaker.

Chilkat VBScript Downloads

VBScript
Dim fso, outFile
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
'Create a Unicode (utf-16) output text file.
Set outFile = fso.CreateTextFile("output.txt", True, True)

success = 0

'  Demonstrates the Ssh.GetHostKeyFP method, which returns the server's host-key fingerprint.
'  The 1st argument is the hash algorithm, the 2nd controls whether the key type is included,
'  and the 3rd controls whether the hash name is included.

set ssh = CreateObject("Chilkat.Ssh")

'  Connect to the SSH server.  Port 22 is the usual SSH port.
sshPort = 22
success = ssh.Connect("ssh.example.com",sshPort)
If (success = 0) Then
    outFile.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    WScript.Quit
End If

'  Get the SHA256 fingerprint, including the key type and hash name in the result.
includeKeyType = 1
includeHashName = 1
fingerprint = ssh.GetHostKeyFP("SHA256",includeKeyType,includeHashName)
If (ssh.LastMethodSuccess = 0) Then
    outFile.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    WScript.Quit
End If

outFile.WriteLine("Host key fingerprint: " & fingerprint)

ssh.Disconnect 

outFile.Close