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How Do I Add an SSH Key in Spinup?

How Do I Add an SSH Key in Spinup?

To connect securely to your Spinup server, you’ll need to add an SSH public key to your account. This allows password-less login and is required for access to Linux servers provisioned through Spinup.

Step 1: Generate an SSH Key (if you don't already have one)

If you don’t already have an SSH key pair, generate one from your terminal:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"

Press Enter to accept the default file location (~/.ssh/id_rsa) and set a passphrase if desired.

Your public key will be saved in a file like ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.

Step 2: Add the SSH Key to Your Spinup Profile

  1. Go to the Spinup Console.

  2. Click your name in the top-right corner and select Profile.

  3. Click the SSH Keys tab.

  4. Click Add Key.

  5. Paste the contents of your public key (e.g., id_rsa.pub) into the field.

  6. Click Save.

🔐 Important: Only public keys (.pub files) should be uploaded. Never share or upload your private key (id_rsa).

Step 3: Verify Access

Once your key is added, any new Linux server you provision will automatically include the key for SSH access. You can connect using:

ssh your-netid@your-server-ip

If you have issues connecting:

  • Make sure you’re using your netid (e.g., tl694, jsi3, etc.).

  • Confirm your public key is correctly copied with no extra spaces or line breaks.

  • Ensure the server’s security group allows SSH (port 22) access.

Need Help?

If you encounter issues:

  • Contact the Spinup team at spinup@yale.edu

  • Join the #spinup channel on Yale Slack for real-time assistance