MetaLocator Enterprise customers can authenticate with the SFTP connector using an SSH key pair.
There are two options:
MetaLocator can generate and provide a key pair for you, or
Your team can generate a key pair and share the public key with MetaLocator.
Key Requirements
Key type: RSA
Key length: Minimum 2048 bits (4096 recommended)
Private key format: PKCS#1 (RSA)
Private key must include:
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
...
-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
Option 1: Generate a Key on Windows (PuTTYgen)
Download and open PuTTYgen (
puttygen.exe).Configure settings:
Key type: RSA (SSH-2 RSA)
Number of bits: 2048 minimum (4096 recommended)
Click Generate.
Move your mouse randomly in the blank area to complete key generation.
Once generated:
Copy the public key from the “Public key for pasting…” field.
Paste it into a text editor (e.g., Notepad).
Save the file as:
metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub
Click Save private key to store your private key securely.
Provide the
.pubfile to the MetaLocator support team (via email or your support ticket).
Notes:
Passphrase is optional (can be left blank).
Do not share your private key.
Option 2: Generate a Key on Mac or Linux
1. Open Terminal
macOS: Applications → Utilities → Terminal
Linux: Open your preferred terminal
2. Run the Key Generation Command
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -C "your_username" -f metalocator-YYYYMMDD
Parameters:
-t rsa→ Required key type-b 4096→ Key length (minimum 2048)-C→ Label (email or username)-f→ Output filename
Example:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -C "jane.doe@example.com" -f metalocator-20260507
3. Follow the Prompts
Press Enter to confirm file location
Choose a passphrase:
Optional (recommended for added security)
Or press Enter to leave blank
4. Locate Your Key Files
After generation, you will have:
Private key →
metalocator-YYYYMMDDPublic key →
metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub
If no filename was specified, defaults are:
id_rsa(private key)id_rsa.pub(public key)
5. Share Your Public Key
Send only the .pub file (e.g., metalocator-20260507.pub) to the MetaLocator support team via email or your support ticket.
Important Security Notes
Never share your private key
Store your private key securely
Do not modify key file contents
Optional: Verify Key Format
To confirm your key type:
ssh-keygen -lf metalocator-YYYYMMDD.pub
To verify the private key format, open the file and confirm it begins and ends with:
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
...
-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
Using Your Private Key in MetaLocator
Copy and paste the private key exactly as-is into MetaLocator when configuring SFTP access
Do not edit or alter formatting