R0106-HP MSR Router Series Security Configuration Guide(V7)

193
Creating a local key pair
Configuration guidelines
When you create a local key pair, follow these guidelines:
• The key algorithm must be the same as required by the security application.
• The key modulus length must be appropriate (see Table 11)
. The longer the key modulus length, the
higher the security, the longer the key generation time.
• If you do not assign the key pair a name, the system assigns the default name to the key pair and
marks the key pair as default. You can also assign the default name to another key pair, but the
system does not mark the key pair as default.
• The name of a key pair must be unique among all manually named key pairs that use the same key
algorithm. If a name conflict occurs, the system asks whether you want to overwrite the existing key
pair.
• The key pairs are automatically saved and can survive system reboots.
Table 11 A comparison of different types of asymmetric key algorithms
Type Number of key pairs Modulus length
HP
recommendation
RSA
• In non-FIPS mode:
{ If you specify the key pair name,
the command creates a host key
pair.
{ If you do not specify the key pair
name, the command creates one
server key pair and one host key
pair, and both key pairs use their
default names.
• In FIPS mode:
If you do not specify a key pair name,
the command creates a host key pair
with the default name.
• In non-FIPS mode:
512 to 2048 bits and
defaults to 1024 bits.
• In FIPS mode:
2048 bits.
At least 768 bits.
DSA
The command only creates one host key
pair.
• In non-FIPS mode:
512 to 2048 bits and
defaults to 1024 bits.
• In FIPS mode:
2048 bits.
At least 768 bits.
ECDSA
The command only creates one host key
pair.
192 bits. N/A
NOTE:
Only SSH 1.5 uses the RSA server key pair.
Configuration procedure
To create a local key pair: