🔐 SSH Setup Toolkit

This repository contains three scripts designed to streamline the setup of SSH key-based authentication between a client machine and a host/server. Whether you're provisioning a new VM, configuring remote access, or onboarding a teammate, these scripts make the process repeatable, secure, and foolproof.

📁 Contents

File	Description
ssh_client_setup.sh	Bash script for Linux/macOS clients to generate and transfer SSH keys
ssh_client_setup.ps1	PowerShell script for Windows clients to do the same
ssh_host_setup.sh	Bash script for host/server to install the transferred public key

🧭 Usage Guide

🖥️ Step 1: Run on the Client Machine

Choose the appropriate script based on your operating system:

• Linux/macOS

  bash ssh_client_setup.sh
  

• Windows (PowerShell)

  .\ssh_client_setup.ps1
  

🔧 This Will:

• Check for required SSH tools (ssh, scp, ssh-keygen)
• Generate a new SSH key pair (if one doesn’t exist)
• Prompt for remote username and host IP
• Transfer the public key to the host as temp_key.pub

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🗄️ Step 2: Run on the Host Machine

• After the public key has been transferred, log into the host and run:

  bash ssh_host_setup.sh
  

🔧 This Will:

• Ensure the .ssh directory exists with correct permissions
• Append the transferred public key to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
• Clean up the temporary key file

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🛡️ Best Practices

• Never share your private key (id_rsa)
• Use unique keys per client for traceability
• Set proper permissions: .ssh → 700, authorized_keys → 600
• Consider using passphrases for keys stored on laptops or shared devices

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🧠 Future Enhancements

This repo is designed to be modular and extensible. Future additions may include:

• Logging setup actions
• Dry-run mode for safe testing
• Multi-host provisioning support
• Windows host-side setup script

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📌 Author

Michael Brown
Operator mindset. Builder of resilient, scalable systems.
Documented for clarity. Designed for continuity.