Accepting a Host Key

The New Host Key dialog appears when SecureCRT attempts to connect to an SSH SSH is an acronym for the Secure Shell protocol. A communications protocol used to encrypt network traffic between a client and a server. server A computer program that provides services to other computer programs (called clients). Often the computer on which a server program runs is also called a server. The term host is often used as a synonym for server. whose host key is not contained in the host key database. This can happen when SecureCRT first encounters an SSH server or when the host name given is an alias that resolves to several different IP addresses.

Note: SecureCRT will warn you about aliases where possible. However, if you are connecting through a firewall, this will not be possible because the firewall prevents SecureCRT from discovering the possibility of the existence of an alias.

For SSH2 The second version of the SSH protocol which provides a way to encrypt network traffic between a client and a server, with a slightly different set of security features than the SSH1 protocol provides. connections, the New Host Key dialog displays the server's public key in a fingerprint format for easier verification. You should check this fingerprint against the actual server fingerprint to verify that the server to which you have connected is legitimate.

Choose one of the options below to proceed with the connection A data path or circuit between two computers over a phone line, network cable, or other means.

·    Accept once: Choosing this option causes the host key from the SSH server to be accepted, but the host key is not saved in the database.

·    Accept & save: Choosing this option causes the host key from the SSH server to be accepted and it is saved in the database.

·    Cancel: Choosing this option causes the host key to not be accepted and the connection process is terminated.

Host Key Database

SecureCRT keeps the host keys that you accept in the host key database. The location of the host key database folder can be found in the SSH Host Keys category in the Global Options dialog.