Key Requirements
Your SSH key must meet the following requirements:
Key Type: RSA
Key Length: Minimum 2048 bits (4096 recommended)
Private Key Format: PKCS#1 (RSA)
The private key should begin and end with:
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
...
-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
Option 1: Generate Keys on Windows (PuTTYgen)
Step 1: Open PuTTYgen
Download and launch PuTTYgen (puttygen.exe).
Step 2: Configure the Key
Select:
Key Type: RSA (SSH-2 RSA)
Number of Bits: 2048
Step 3: Generate the Key
Click Generate.
Move your mouse randomly within the blank area until key generation completes.
Step 4: Save the Public Key
Copy the text from "Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized_keys file".
Paste it into Notepad or another text editor.
Save the file as:
metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub
Step 5: Save the Private Key
Click Conversions > Export OpenSSH.
Store the file in a secure location.
Step 6: Send the Public Key to MetaLocator
Provide only the .pub file to the MetaLocator support team via email or your support ticket.
Important
Never share your private key.
Store your private key securely and keep a backup.
Option 2: Generate Keys on Mac or Linux
Step 1: Open Terminal
macOS
Applications → Utilities → Terminal
Linux
Open your preferred terminal application.
Step 2: Generate the Key Pair
Run the following command:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -C "your_username" -f metalocator-YYYYMMDD
Example:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -C "jane.doe@example.com" -f metalocator-20260601
Step 3: Follow the Prompts
Press Enter to accept the file location.
Choose a passphrase:
Optional but recommended for additional security.
Press Enter to leave it blank.
Step 4: Locate Your Key Files
After generation, you will have:
File | Purpose |
metalocator-YYYYMMDD | Private Key |
metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub | Public Key |
Example:
metalocator-20260601(private key)metalocator-20260601.pub(public key)
Step 5: Send the Public Key to MetaLocator
Send only the .pub file to the MetaLocator support team via email or your support ticket.
Verify Your Key (Optional)
Verify the Public Key
Run:
ssh-keygen -lf metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub
Verify the Private Key Format
Open the private key file in a text editor and confirm it begins and ends with:
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----- ... -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
Using Your Private Key in MetaLocator
When configuring SFTP access in MetaLocator:
Open your private key file.
Copy the entire contents exactly as shown.
Paste the key into the MetaLocator SFTP configuration.
Important:
Do not edit the key.
Do not remove line breaks.
Do not alter the BEGIN or END lines.
Security Best Practices
✅ Share only the public key (.pub file)
✅ Store your private key securely
✅ Keep a backup of your private key
❌ Never share your private key with anyone
❌ Do not modify the contents of your key files