FlashPanel

Server SSH Keys ​

Server SSH Keys let you grant secure access to specific system users on the server. This page helps you manage SSH keys that have been added to individual system users on your server.

TIP

Server SSH Keys are different from Global SSH Keys. Global keys are automatically added to every new server you create, while server SSH keys apply to a single server and a specific system user.

Access the management page ​

  1. Open your server detail page
  2. In the server menu, open Security > SSH Keys

The page displays a table of all SSH keys currently added to the server, with the following columns:

  • Name: memorable name for the SSH key
  • System User: the Linux user that this key grants access to
  • Created By: the team member who added this key (shown with avatar)
  • Date Created: when the key was added to the server

Add SSH Key to the server ​

Step 1: Open the create dialog ​

Click the Add SSH Key button in the upper right corner of the page.

The Add SSH Key dialog appears.

Step 2: Fill in the information ​

Option 1: Generate key automatically

  1. Click the Generate SSH Key button in the upper right corner of the dialog
  2. The system generates a new 4096-bit RSA SSH key pair and fills in Name and Public key
  3. A yellow warning banner displays: "This private key is only issued once, please download the backup"
  4. Download the following files immediately:
    • OpenSSH Key: private key for Linux, macOS, and OpenSSH on Windows (file name: {name}, without an extension)
    • PuTTY Key: private key for PuTTY on Windows (file name: {name}.ppk)
    • Public Key: the public key (file name: {name}.pub)
  5. Select the system user in the User field

Option 2: Enter existing key

Fill in the following fields manually:

  • Name: a memorable name for this SSH key (e.g., "John's Laptop", "Deployment Key")
  • User: select the Linux system user that this key will grant access to (e.g., flashpanel, root, or any custom user you've created)
  • Public key: paste the SSH public key content (format: ssh-rsa AAAA... or ssh-ed25519 AAAA...)

Step 3: Complete ​

Click the Add SSH Key button at the bottom of the dialog to add the key to the server.

The new key will appear in the list. The system automatically installs the key into the selected system user's authorized_keys file.

Delete SSH Key ​

To remove an SSH key from the server:

  1. Locate the key in the list
  2. Click the trash icon at the end of the row
  3. The Delete SSH Key? dialog appears
  4. Click Confirm to delete it

The key will be removed from the server's authorized_keys file and the user will no longer be able to connect using that key.

Important

  • Private keys are only issued once when automatically generated. Download and save them before closing the dialog
  • Deleting an SSH key is immediate and cannot be undone. Make sure you have backup access before removing keys
  • Keys are tied to specific system users. If you delete a system user, their SSH keys are also removed :::

Use cases ​

Development team access: Add SSH keys for each developer on your team, granting them access to specific system users based on their role.

Deployment automation: Create dedicated SSH keys for CI/CD pipelines to deploy applications without using passwords.

Multiple device access: Add separate SSH keys for your laptop, desktop, and other devices you use to connect to the server.

Client access: Grant temporary SSH access to clients or contractors by adding their public keys, and easily revoke access by deleting the keys when needed.