(Visual Basic 6.0) SFTP Authentication using X.509 Certificates

See more SFTP Examples

Demonstrates how to authenticate with an SSH/SFTP server using an certificate's private key.

Note: See X.509v3 Certificates for SSH Authentication for more information.

Chilkat ActiveX Downloads ActiveX for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows

' This example assumes the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
' See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

Dim sftp As New ChilkatSFtp

Dim hostname As String
hostname = "sftp.example.com"
Dim port As Long
port = 22
Dim success As Long
success = sftp.Connect(hostname,port)
If (success <> 1) Then
    Debug.Print sftp.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

' Load the cert + private key from a .pfx.
' Note: Chilkat provides methods for loading certs and private keys from many sources, including smart cards and USB tokens (HSM's)
Dim cert As New ChilkatCert
success = cert.LoadPfxFile("qa_data/pfx/example.pfx","pfx_password")
If (success <> 1) Then
    Debug.Print cert.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

' Get the cert's private key (as PEM) to be used for SSH authentication.
' (The public key is installed on the server.)
Dim privKeyPem As String
privKeyPem = cert.GetPrivateKeyPem()
If (cert.LastMethodSuccess = 0) Then
    Debug.Print cert.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Dim key As New ChilkatSshKey

' Load a private key from a PEM string:
success = key.FromOpenSshPrivateKey(privKeyPem)
If (success <> 1) Then
    Debug.Print key.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

' Authenticate with the SSH server.
success = sftp.AuthenticatePk("myLogin",key)
If (success <> 1) Then
    Debug.Print sftp.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.Print "Public-Key Authentication Successful!"