A step by step simple command line procedure to enable SSH server and add a ssh user in Cisco switch or router .
Set a Hostname for the switch/ router
Switch1(config)#hostname Switch1
Set a domain name , this is one of the pre-requisite for ssh.
Switch1(config)#ip domain-name shareolite.com
Generate a RSA key,
Switch1(config)#crypto key generate rsa
The name for the keys will be: Switch1.shareolite.com
Choose the size of the key modulus in the range of 360 to 2048 for your
General Purpose Keys. Choosing a key modulus greater than 512 may take
a few minutes.
How many bits in the modulus [512]: 1024
% Generating 1024 bit RSA keys, keys will be non-exportable...[OK]
Switch1(config)#
*Mar 1 00:56:15.718: %SSH-5-ENABLED: SSH 1.99 has been enabled
Switch1(config)#
Switch1(config)#^Z
Switch1#
*Mar 1 00:56:29.928: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Switch1#
Verify the activation status.
Switch1#show ssh
%No SSHv1 server connections running.
%No SSHv2 server connections running.
Switch1#show ip ssh
SSH Enabled - version 1.99
Authentication timeout: 120 secs; Authentication retries: 3
Switch1#
Creating a SSH user,
Switch1# config t
Switch1(config)#line
vty 0 5
Switch1(config-line)#transport
input ssh
Switch1(config-line)#username John privilege 15 password john123
Switch1(config-line)#login
local
Switch1(config-line)#^Z
Switch1#wr
Verify SSH login from a terminal using this account. Hope this helps to some network beginners.