SSH key-based authentication for local system users

Last published : Sep 24, 2026
To have a secured user access for the NetScaler appliance you can have the public key authentication of the SSH server. The SSH key-based authentication is preferred over traditional user name or password based authentication for the following reasons:
  • Provides better cryptographic strength than user passwords.
  • Eliminates the need of remembering complicated passwords and prevents shoulder-surfing attacks which are possible if passwords are used.
  • Provides a password-less login for making automation scenarios more secured.
NetScaler supports SSH key-based authentication by applying the public and private key concept. The SSH key-based authentication in NetScaler can be enabled either for a specific user or for all local users.
Note
The feature is supported only for NetScaler local users and not supported for external users.

SSH key-based authentication for local system users

In a NetScaler appliance, an administrator can set up SSH key-based authentication for a secured system access. When a user logs into the NetScaler using a private key, the system authenticates the user using the public key configured on the appliance.

Configure SSH key-based authentication for the NetScaler local system users by using CLI

Following configuration helps you to configure key-based authentication for NetScaler local system users.
  1. Log on to a NetScaler appliance using administrator credentials.
  2. By default your sshd_config file accesses this path: AuthorizedKeysFile /nsconfig/ssh/authorized_keys.
  3. Append the public key to the authorized_keys file: /nsconfig/ssh/authorized_keys. The file path for sshd_config is /etc/sshd_config.
  4. Copy the sshd_config file into /nsconfig to ensure that the changes persist even after restarting the appliance.
  5. You can use the following command to restart your sshd process.
kill -HUP `cat /var/run/sshd.pid`
Note
If the authorized_keys file is not available, you must first create one and then append the public key. Make sure the file has the following permission for the authorized_keys.
root@NetScaler# chmod 0644 authorized_keys
> shell
Copyright (c) 1992-2013 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
root@ns# cd /nsconfig/ssh
root@ns# vi authorized_keys
### Add public keys in authorized_keys file

User-specific SSH key-based authentication for local system users

In a NetScaler appliance, an administrator can now set up a user specific SSH key-based authentication for a secured system access. The administrator must first configure the Authorizedkeysfile option in the sshd_config file and then add the public key in the authorized_keys file for a system user.
Note
If the authorized_keys file is not available for a user, the administrator must first create one and then add the public key to it.

Configure user-specific SSH key-based authentication by using the CLI

Following procedure helps you to configure user-specific SSH key-based authentication for NetScaler local system users.
  1. Log on to a NetScaler appliance using administrator credentials.
  2. At the shell prompt, access the sshd_config file and add the following configuration line:
    AuthorizedKeysFile ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
    Note
    The ~ is the home directory and differs for different users. It expands to the different home directory.
  3. Change the directory to the system user folder and add the public keys in the authorized_keys file.
    /var/pubkey/<username>/.ssh/authorized_keys
Once you have completed the earlier steps, restart the sshd process on your appliance by the following command:
    kill -HUP `cat /var/run/sshd.pid`
Note
If the authorized_keys file is not available, you must first create one and then add the public key.
> shell
Copyright (c) 1992-2013 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
root@ns# cd /var/pubkey/<username>/
root@ns# ls
.ssh
root@ns# cd .ssh
root@ns# vi authorized_keys
### Add public keys in authorized_keys file
Also, read Citrix article, CTX109011 to know how secure SSH access to NetScaler appliance works.