Connecting to the Virtual I/O Server by using OpenSSH

You can set up remote connections to the Virtual I/O Server by using secure connections.

1. If you are using a version of Virtual I/O Server before Version 1.3.0, then install OpenSSH before you connect. For instructions, see Downloading, installing, and updating OpenSSH and OpenSSL.
2. Connect to the Virtual I/O Server.
   If you are using Version 1.3.0 or later, then connect by using either an interactive or noninteractive shell. If you are using a version before 1.3.0, then connect by using only an interactive shell.
   • To connect by using an interactive shell, type the following command from the command line of a remote system:

     ssh username@vioshostname

     where, username is your user name for the Virtual I/O Server and vioshostname is the name of the Virtual I/O Server.
   • To connect by using a noninteractive shell, run the following command:

     ssh username@vioshostname command

     Where:
     • username is your user name for the Virtual I/O Server.
     • vioshostname is the name of the Virtual I/O Server.
     • command is the command that you want to run. For example, ioscli lsmap -all.
       Note: When you use a noninteractive shell, remember to use the full command form (including the ioscli prefix) for all Virtual I/O Server commands.
3. Authenticate SSH.
   If you are using Version 1.3.0 or later, then authenticate by using either passwords or keys. If you are using a version before 1.3.0, then authenticate by using only passwords.
   • To authenticate by using passwords, enter your user name and password when prompted by the SSH client.
   • To authenticate by using keys, perform the following steps on the SSH client's operating system:
     1. Create a directory called $HOME/.ssh to store the keys. You can use RSA or DSA keys.
     2. Run the ssh-keygen command to generate public and private keys. For example,

        ssh-keygen -t  rsa

        This creates the following files in the $HOME/.ssh directory:
        • Private key: id_rsa
        • Public key: id_rsa.pub
     3. Run the following command to append the public key to the authorized_keys2 file on the Virtual I/O Server:

        cat $HOME/.ssh/public_key_file | ssh username@vioshostname tee -a /home/username/.ssh/authorized_keys2

        Where:
        • public_key_file is the public key file that is generated in the previous step. For example, id_rsa.pub.
        • username is your user name for the Virtual I/O Server.
        • vioshostname is the name of the Virtual I/O Server.