Using a .ppk key with `ssh`

Question

I have a PuTTY .ppk key. How do I use it with ssh/OpenSSH on Linux?

Answer 1

Use PuTTYgen to convert it to the apropriate format.

• If you need the private key, use PuTTYgen's Conversions → Export OpenSSH key menu item on Windows, or run the following command on Linux:

  puttygen MyKey.ppk -O private-openssh -o MyKey.key
  

• If you only need the public half, copy&paste it from PuTTYgen's "Public key for pasting" box. On Linux, use a similar command as above, only replacing private-openssh with public-openssh.

  

(On Linux, PuTTYgen is usually available in the package putty or putty-tools.)