How to Use PuTTY Agent (Pageant) with Your cPanel Account

Pageant is the authentication agent included with PuTTY that allows you to store your SSH private keys securely in memory. This lets you connect to your server using SSH without entering your passphrase every time.

This guide explains how to use Pageant with PuTTY and your cPanel account.

What Is Pageant?

Pageant is a background application that works with PuTTY to manage SSH authentication keys.

Instead of typing your password each time you connect through SSH, Pageant allows you to:

• Store your private SSH key securely

• Authenticate automatically when connecting with PuTTY

• Manage multiple SSH keys

This is especially useful for developers who frequently connect to their server or use tools like Git.

Step 1: Generate an SSH Key in cPanel

Before using Pageant, you should create an SSH key in cPanel.

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Scroll to the Security section.

3. Click SSH Access.

4. Click Manage SSH Keys.

5. Click Generate a New Key.

Fill in the following:

• Key Name

• Key Password (Passphrase)

Click Generate Key.

Step 2: Authorize the SSH Key

After creating the key:

1. Locate the key under Public Keys.

2. Click Manage.

3. Click Authorize.

This allows the key to be used for SSH connections.

Step 3: Download the Private Key for PuTTY

PuTTY requires a .ppk (PuTTY Private Key) file.

1. In cPanel → SSH Access → Manage SSH Keys.

2. Locate your private key.

3. Click View/Download.

4. Select Convert to .ppk format if necessary.

5. Download the .ppk file to your computer.

Step 4: Start Pageant

1. Open Pageant from the PuTTY installation folder.

2. Pageant will appear as an icon in your system tray.

Pageant runs in the background and manages your SSH keys.

Step 5: Add Your SSH Key to Pageant

1. Right-click the Pageant icon in the system tray.

2. Click Add Key.

3. Select the .ppk private key file you downloaded.

4. Enter your key passphrase when prompted.

The key will now be loaded into Pageant.

Step 6: Connect Using PuTTY

Once your key is loaded in Pageant:

1. Open PuTTY.

2. Enter your server hostname or domain name.

Example:

yourdomain.com

3. Ensure the Port is set to:

22

4. Set Connection Type to SSH.

5. Click Open.

PuTTY will automatically use the key stored in Pageant to authenticate.

Benefits of Using Pageant

Using Pageant provides several advantages:

• Faster SSH logins

• Secure key-based authentication

• No need to repeatedly enter passwords

• Ability to manage multiple SSH keys

Security Tips

• Keep your private key file secure and never share it.

• Always use a strong passphrase for SSH keys.

• Close Pageant when you are finished working if you are on a shared computer.

• Store backups of your SSH keys in a secure location.

Troubleshooting

If Pageant is not working correctly:

• Verify the SSH key is authorized in cPanel.

• Confirm the correct .ppk file is loaded in Pageant.

• Ensure Pageant is running before opening PuTTY.

• Check that SSH access is enabled for your hosting account.

If you continue to experience issues using Pageant with PuTTY, please contact our support team and include any error messages or screenshots so we can assist you further.