Created on 
    
	
		
		
		05-30-2016
	
		
		03:34 PM
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
  Edited on 
    
	
		
		
		01-14-2025
	
		
		07:39 AM
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 By  
				
		 Stephen_G
		
			Stephen_G
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
			 
		
Description
In FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer, up to three administrators connected to the CLI can be authenticated with public-private key pairs without being asked for the administrator password. The public-private key pair must be created in the SSH client application. This article explains how to generate the key pair using PuTTY
Scope
FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer, version 4 or later.
Solution
Follow the steps used to authenticate an admin user with an SSH key in FortiGate, but select between the SSH-1(RSA), SSH-2RSA or SSH-2 DSA formats when creating the key. 
Complete the CLI configuration steps in FortiManager or FortiAnalyzer under the following:
config sys admin user
edit <Username>
set ssh-public-key1 "...."
Do so with a key in one of the three formats mentioned above instead of in the ssh-rsa, ssh-dss, or ssh-ed25519 formats.
Related article:
How to generate ssh keys on Linux host and use it for public-private key authentication to FortiGate
The Fortinet Security Fabric brings together the concepts of convergence and consolidation to provide comprehensive cybersecurity protection for all users, devices, and applications and across all network edges.
Copyright 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.