WS_FTP Server supports two methods of authenticating over SSH.
Public key. Public key authentication is the preferred authentication method for SSH. Clients authenticate by sending a key which the server matches to the key associated with the user. If the match is successful, the client is authenticated.
If an SSH listener is associated with a host that has users in an Active Directory user database or Microsoft Windows user database, do not select public key as the sole authentication method. Because users in these databases cannot have SSH user keys associated with them, they will not be able to connect to the SSH server via this listener.
Password. Password authentication works much like FTP authentication. Users present a username and password to the server, which verifies that the password supplied is the password for the user supplied. If the passwords match, the client is authenticated.
To configure authentication methods for an SSH listener:
From the top menu, select Server > Listeners. The Listeners page opens.
Click the IP address of the listener you want to open. The Edit Listener page opens.
At the bottom of the page, click SSH Settings. The Listener Encryption Settings (SSH) page opens.
Under Authentication Method, select the checkboxes next to the authentication methods you want to allow.
Click Save when finished.
Note: If you choose to allow both authentication methods, users can authenticate using a public key OR a password; both are not required. Both methods must be selected if you wish to require password and SSH user key authentication for users belonging to any host associated with this listener, otherwise those users will not be able to authenticate. See Configuring password and SSH user key authentication for more information.
