What is sshd-keygen-wrapper?

The sshd-keygen-wrapper is a wrapper script used to automate the process of generating RSA, DSA, and ECDSA key pairs for SSH. It is typically found in Linux-based operating systems where it is installed along with the OpenSSH package.

This wrapper script provides a convenient interface to the underlying ssh-keygen tool, which is responsible for generating the cryptographic keys. The sshd-keygen-wrapper simplifies the key generation process by automatically selecting appropriate default options and handling any necessary prompts or confirmations.

The main purpose of using the sshd-keygen-wrapper is to create SSH key pairs, consisting of a private key and a corresponding public key. These keys are then used for authentication purposes when establishing secure connections with remote systems over SSH.

The wrapper script allows users to specify the type of key pair they want to generate (RSA, DSA, or ECDSA) and additional parameters such as key length and file location. By default, it generates 2048-bit RSA keys, which are considered secure for most purposes.

Once the key pair has been generated, the public key is typically copied to the remote system's authorized_keys file to enable passwordless authentication. The private key should be kept secret and securely stored, as it grants access to systems that trust the corresponding public key.

Overall, the sshd-keygen-wrapper is a useful tool for simplifying the process of generating SSH key pairs, providing a convenient and secure method for authentication in remote system administration.