ssh_host_rsa_key 1024 bit?

Linux and Unix-Like Red Hat
1

Hi All,

How do I know if ssh_host_rsa_key is 1024 bit?

cat /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key | wc -m
887

It's only 887. Is that it? Or not?

Thank you for any comment you may add.

2

the keys are uuencoded, so the actual size will probably be larger than the original size. Given it's not, I'd guess it's a 512 bit key, not 1024, but that's only a guess. Try running the 'file' utility on it, it may identify it. Or try looking at the contents of the file itself, it may be labelled in text.

3

Here's the command for checking it

localhost > ssh-keygen -l -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
1024 2a:7f:4b:ec:de:fe:b5:08:25:23:7f:09:3d:04:d8:80 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub

thanks to myself, lol.