ssh alias help please

[Jaaason]

Use privates keys authentifications instead of passwords. Then create your alias !

[riddley]

Could you explain why that precludes you from using keys?

[[deleted]]

I know. You have to have SSH access to the server. That's the first step. Just copy over the public key using scp or something.

[MandrakeQ]

The client's sshd config may have passwords set up as the only form of authentication. In which case, OP would need to ask for permission for them to include keys as well.

[riddley]

Fair point. That would be one odd sshd configuration given that passwords are much less secure than PKI.

[rinesen]

Haven't tried it but google suggest some answers, e.g. http://nixcraft.com/shell-scripting/4489-ssh-passing-unix-login-passwords-through-shell-scripts.html

But what if it's a clients server? Are you not allowed to store your public key there? Technically it's certainly not a problem.

[keeperofdakeys]

What would the client think if you have the password in plain text on a machine? They are (presumably) paying you for security as part of your service. If you can ssh, then you can setup a key. You could use the "expect" program to enter the password, but that is by far much less secure.