openssh unix dev - Mar 2006 - Purpose of Publickey file

Hello All,

I'm using OpenSSH 4.2p1 and I have a question regarding the usage of host 
keys in OpenSSH. The host keys (both private and public) are stored in etc 
directory. But when sshd loads the key, it reads only private key and 
generates the public key from it. Is there any reason for having the public 
host key along with the private key in the etc directory?

--
M.P

On Fri, 10 Mar 2006, ponraj wrote:
> Hello All,
> 
> I'm using OpenSSH 4.2p1 and I have a question regarding the usage of
host
> keys in OpenSSH. The host keys (both private and public) are stored in etc 
> directory. But when sshd loads the key, it reads only private key and 
> generates the public key from it. Is there any reason for having the public
> host key along with the private key in the etc directory?
Yes, so users can manually add them to their known_hosts files or verify
them out of band.

(notice that the public keys are world readable for that reason)

-d