SSH password prompt

ksshaskpass shows a window when an SSH program needs a passphrase, a password or a yes-or-no answer, and no terminal is available. It can also save passphrases, so you only type them once.

You don't start it directly. OpenSSH runs it for you, once it knows about it.

#Setting it up

SonicDE doesn't set this up for you. OpenSSH uses the program named in the SSH_ASKPASS environment variable when it has no terminal. To load your key when you log in, make a script containing the following, make it executable, and add it in Autostart:

#!/bin/sh
SSH_ASKPASS=ksshaskpass ssh-add < /dev/null

This needs an SSH agent to be running in your session.

#The prompts

For a passphrase or password, the SSH Credentials window shows what's being asked for, and has a Password field.

When the program recognizes which key or account is being asked for, it also offers Remember password:

• Tick it to save the passphrase in your password manager, normally KDE Wallet. Next time, it's used without asking.
• If a saved passphrase turns out to be wrong, you're asked again. Untick the box then to delete the saved one.

For a yes-or-no question, the window has Accept and Cancel buttons. When OpenSSH asks whether to trust an unknown server, the Unknown SSH Host Key window has Yes and No instead. Check the key's fingerprint before you answer Yes.

#Using it from a script

ksshaskpass prints your answer to standard output. You can pass the text to show as its argument:

ksshaskpass "Enter the passphrase for the backup key:"

Set SSH_ASKPASS_PROMPT=confirm for a yes-or-no question, or SSH_ASKPASS_PROMPT=none to only show a message.