openssh unix dev - Sep 2003 - OpenSSH 3.5p1 (HP version): permissions of public identity

Hello,

I just received thes odd messages from HP-UX Secure Shell A.03.50.000. 
(OpenSSH 3.5p1):

# ssh-add id_rsa.pub
5215: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
5215: @         WARNING: UNPROTECTED PRIVATE KEY FILE!          @
5215: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
5215: Permissions 0644 for 'id_rsa.pub' are too open.
5215: It is recommended that your private key files are NOT accessible by 
others.
5215: This private key will be ignored.
5215: bad permissions: ignore key: id_rsa.pub
Enter passphrase for id_rsa.pub:

Now I think the ".pub" is a public key, so what's wrong with the
permissions?
Also, when private key will be ignored, why then ask for a password?

I'm a bit confused.

Regards,
Ulrich

On Thu, 2003-09-04 at 09:05, Ulrich Windl wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I just received thes odd messages from HP-UX Secure Shell A.03.50.000. 
> (OpenSSH 3.5p1):
> 
> # ssh-add id_rsa.pub
[snipped error messages]

Try ssh-adding your PRIVATE key...
$ ssh-add id_rsa

-- 
Mark Janssen -- maniac(at)maniac.nl -- GnuPG Key Id: 357D2178
Unix / Linux, Open-Source and Internet Consultant @ SyConOS IT
Maniac.nl Unix-God.Net|Org MarkJanssen.org|nl SyConOS.com|nl

On Thu, 2003-09-04 at 17:05, Ulrich Windl wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I just received thes odd messages from HP-UX Secure Shell A.03.50.000. 
> (OpenSSH 3.5p1):
> 
> # ssh-add id_rsa.pub
Don't add public keys. 

ssh-add id_rsa

-d

On 4 Sep 2003 at 12:04, Mark Janssen wrote:
> On Thu, 2003-09-04 at 09:05, Ulrich Windl wrote:
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I just received thes odd messages from HP-UX Secure Shell A.03.50.000.
> > (OpenSSH 3.5p1):
> > 
> > # ssh-add id_rsa.pub
> [snipped error messages]
> 
> Try ssh-adding your PRIVATE key...
You are right; I mixed up the authentication model. Anyway the program was 
asking for a password after telling me that it will ignore the key. 
Inconsistent...
> $ ssh-add id_rsa
Regards,
Ulrich