How to Setup SSH in GCP?

If you are working on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), it is important to know how to set up SSH (Secure Shell) access to your virtual machines. SSH is a secure way to access your virtual machines remotely. With SSH, you can remotely access the command line interface (CLI) of your virtual machine and execute commands just as if you were sitting in front of the machine. This article will guide you through the process of setting up SSH in GCP.

Step 1: Create a new VM instance

The first step is to create a new VM instance in GCP. To create a new VM instance, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your GCP console.

2. Click on the Navigation menu (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner of the screen.

3. Click on Compute Engine.

4. Click on VM instances.

5. Click on Create Instance.

6. Choose your preferred settings for the instance, including the operating system, machine type, and disk size.

7. Click on Create.

Step 2: Generate SSH keys

The next step is to generate SSH keys. SSH keys are a pair of files that are used to authenticate you to the remote machine. To generate SSH keys, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal on your local machine.

2. Type the following command: ssh-keygen -t rsa

3. Press Enter to accept the default file name and location.

4. Type a passphrase if you want to add an extra layer of security.

5. Press Enter to confirm the passphrase.

6. Your SSH keys will be generated and saved in the default location.

Step 3: Add SSH keys to the VM instance

The next step is to add your SSH keys to the VM instance. To add SSH keys to the VM instance, follow these steps:

1. In the GCP console, go to Compute Engine > VM instances.

2. Click on the name of the instance that you want to add the SSH keys to.

3. Click on Edit.

4. Scroll down to the section labeled "SSH Keys."

5. Click on "Show and edit."

6. Copy the contents of the public key file (the file with the .pub extension) that you generated in Step 2.

7. Paste the contents into the text box labeled "Enter entire key data."

8. Click on Save.

Step 4: Connect to the VM instance using SSH

The final step is to connect to the VM instance using SSH. To connect to the VM instance using SSH, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal on your local machine.

2. Type the following command: ssh [USERNAME]@[EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS]

3. Replace [USERNAME] with the username that you created when you set up the VM instance.

4. Replace [EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS] with the external IP address of the VM instance.

5. Press Enter.

6. If prompted, enter the passphrase that you created in Step 2.

7. You should now be connected to the VM instance and have access to the command line interface.

Setting up SSH in GCP is an important step to ensure secure remote access to your virtual machines. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up SSH in GCP and start remotely accessing your virtual machines.

Related Searches and Questions asked:

Using YubiKey for SSH Authentication on Windows

How to Use MobaXterm on Mac

Looking for MobaXterm Alternative? Here are Some Options to Consider

MobaXterm vs Putty: Which One Should You Choose?

That's it for this post. Keep practicing and have fun. Leave your comments if any.