SSH keys

What SSH keys are used for#

An SSH key in the Game Server Panel proves who you are when you connect to your game servers over SFTP or SSH. Rather than typing a password every time, you add your public key once and then connect with the matching private key that stays on your computer. The keys you add live in the Game Server Panel, so a single key works across every game server you can reach.

Once a key is in place, you can follow the step-by-step connection details in Connect over SFTP.

Note: These keys belong to the Game Server Panel and are only for SFTP and SSH access to your game servers. They are not managed in the billing portal, and they do not grant access to a VPS. VPS access is handled separately in the VPS Panel, so see Connecting to your VPS for that.

Generating a key pair#

If you do not have a key pair yet, you can make one with ssh-keygen. Run the following in a terminal and accept the default file location when it prompts you:

bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"

This writes two files. The private key goes to ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 and the public key goes to ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub. You will paste the contents of the .pub file into your account in the next step.

Note: Only ever paste the public key, the one ending in .pub. Keep the private key file to yourself and never upload or share it.

Adding a key to your account#

Open the SSH Keys page for your account. If you have not added a key yet, you will see a "No SSH Keys" message. Press the "Add SSH Key" button in the top right to open the dialog.

The dialog asks for two things. Give the key a "SSH Key Name" so you can tell it apart later, for example the name of the laptop or workstation it belongs to. Then paste the full contents of your .pub file into the "Public Key" field. Both fields are required. Press "Add Key" to save it.

The new key then shows up in the list with the name you gave it and the date you added it.

Viewing a key's fingerprint#

Each key in the list shows its name and when it was added, along with a fingerprint that starts with SHA256:. The fingerprint is masked by default. Press the eye icon next to it to reveal the full value, and press it again to hide it. This is handy when you want to confirm which key is which without opening the original .pub file.

Removing a key#

To take a key away, press the trash icon on its row. A "Delete SSH Key" dialog appears and warns that removing the key will invalidate its usage across the Panel. Press "Delete Key" to confirm.

Because keys are account-wide, deleting one revokes its access everywhere at once, across every server you can reach. Remove a key as soon as the matching private key is lost or you no longer trust the machine it sits on.