PowerShell Password-less SSH to Linux

              

Using Powershell version 3:

PS C:\Windows\system32> $PSVersionTable

Name                           Value
----                           -----
WSManStackVersion              3.0
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0}
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1
BuildVersion                   6.2.9200.16398
PSVersion                      3.0
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.1
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.2

PS C:\Windows\system32> $PSVersionTable.PSVersion

Major  Minor  Build  Revision
-----  -----  -----  --------
3      0      -1     -1

Download SSH-Session module from:

http://www.powershelladmin.com/wiki/SSH_from_PowerShell_using_the_SSH.NET_library#Downloads

In Download Section:

Download Script Module and DLL file: SSH-SessionsPSv3.zip

Extract SSH-SessionsPSv3.zip and this creates:

C:\Downloads\SSH-SessionsPSv3.zip\SSH-Sessions

Get the Module Paths:

PS C:\Windows\system32> $env:PSModulePath

C:\Users\rumman\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules;C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\

This is module extention path: C:\Users\rumman\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules

Copy "C:\Downloads\SSH-SessionsPSv3\SSH-Sessions" To "C:\Users\rumman\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules"

Now, in shell prompt, use the following command to ensure that the module is available:

PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-Module *ssh*

ModuleType Name                                ExportedCommands
---------- ----                                ----------------
Script     SSH-Sessions                        {ConvertFrom-SecureToPlain, Enter-SshSession, Get-SshSession, 
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-Command *ssh*

CommandType     Name                                               ModuleName
-----------     ----                                               ----------
Function        Enter-SshSession                                   SSH-Sessions
Function        Get-SshSession                                     SSH-Sessions
Function        Invoke-SshCommand                                  SSH-Sessions
Function        New-SshSession                                     SSH-Sessions
Function        Remove-SshSession                                  SSH-Sessions

Import Module:

PS C:\Users\rumman> Import-Module SSH-Sessions

Import-Module : Could not load file or assembly
'file:///C:\Users\rumman\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\SSH-Sessions\Renci.SshNet.dll' or one of its
dependencies. Operation is not supported. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131515)
At line:1 char:1
+ Import-Module SSH-Sessions
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (:) [Import-Module], FileLoadException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : FormatXmlUpdateException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ImportModuleCommand

I faced the above issue and what I did unblocking the file.

Go to C:\Users\rumman\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\SSH-Sessions

There are 3 files:

- Renci.SshNet.dll

- SSH-Sessions.psd1

- SSH-Sessions.psm1

For each file, right-click -> Properties -> Unblock

Then, load the module again:

PS C:\Users\rumman> Import-Module SSH-Sessions
PS C:\Users\rumman>

Verify SSH Connection:

PS C:\Users\rumman> New-SSHSession -ComputerName "10.0.0.16" -Username "postgres"

No key provided. Enter SSH password for postgres: ******
Successfully connected to 10.0.0.16
PS C:\Users\rumman> Get-Session

PS C:\Users\rumman> Get-SSHSession

ComputerName                                                                                                  Connected
------------                                                                                                  ---------
10.0.0.16                                                                                                          True

PS C:\Users\rumman> Remove-SSHSession -ComputerName "10.0.0.16"
10.0.0.16 should now be disconnected and disposed.

Setup Password-less SSH:

Download Putty.exe and Puttygen.exe. One of the sites for this:

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

There are lots of sites available to describe the steps to use puttygen to setup password-less ssh.

For example,

http://www.walkernews.net/2008/06/05/configure-putty-to-support-password-less-ssh-login/

I saved the private key at  C:\putty\private_key.ppk

And also use the menu conversion->export OpenSSH

and save it as exported_openssh_key

This key is usable for other application.

When password-less ssh is working form Putty, now try from powershell:

PS C:\Users\rumman> New-SSHSession -ComputerName "10.0.0.16" -UserName "postgres" -KeyFile C:\putty\exported_openssh_key

Key file specified. Will override password. Trying to read key file...

PS C:\Users\rumman> Get-SSHSession

ComputerName                                                                                                  Connected
------------                                                                                                  ---------
10.0.0.16                                                                                                          True