⁠8.7. Configuring Virtualization Host SSH

Summary
The Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager accesses virtualization hosts via SSH. To do this it logs in as the root user using an encrypted key for authentication. You must follow this procedure to ensure that SSH is configured to allow this.

Warning

The first time the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager is connected to the host it will install an authentication key. In the process it will overwrite any existing keys contained in the /root/.ssh/authorized_keys file.
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Procedure 8.5. Configuring virtualization host SSH

All commands in this procedure must be run as the root user.

  1. Install the SSH server (openssh-server)

    Install the openssh-server package using yum. 
    # yum install openssh-server

  2. Edit SSH server configuration

    Open the SSH server configuration, /etc/ssh/sshd_config, in a text editor. Search for the PermitRootLogin.
    • If PermitRootLogin is set to yes, or is not set at all, no further action is required.
    • If PermitRootLogin is set to no, then you must change it to yes.
    Save any changes that you have made to the file, and exit the text editor.

  3. Enable the SSH server

    Configure the SSH server to start at system boot using the chkconfig command. 
    # chkconfig --level 345 sshd on

  4. Start the SSH server

    Start the SSH, or restart it if it is already running, using the service command. 
    # service sshd restart
Result
You have configured the virtualization host to allow root access over SSH.