Notepad++ NppFTP plugin fails to connect via SFTP

Question

So, i've been having this problem for a while now.

Notepad++ NppFTP plugin fails to connect to server via SFTP with "[SFTP] Error during authentication: Invalid private key file". But the key file is 100% correct and i'm connecting fine with WinSCP.

Any solutions?

Answer 1

The solution for me was to use puttygen to export a .ppk version of my private key to OpenSSH as follows:

1. Open PuttyGen
2. Menu: Conversion -> Export OpenSSH key
3. Save your new key (don't forget to make it clear it is openssh)

This was weird seeing as my .ppk was converted from a private key generated by OpenSSH itself.

I think it has to do with the fact that my original key starts with

---- BEGIN SSH2 ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY ----

whereas the exported key starts with

-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----

Answer 2

Log-in to your terminal. Make sure you are in /home/your_user_name/

First client private/public key

$ ssh-keygen -t rsa

1. Press Enter to choose default directory
2. You may choose a pass phrase here depending upon situation.

Now add your public rsa key details to authorized keys, use the following command

$ cat id_rsa.pub >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

$ chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

After this delete the id_rsa.pub file if you wish.

Now the private key file id_rsa is the one you need to 'import'.

You need the tool called the puttygen to import this file and then
click on the Menu Bar -> Conversions -> Export OpenSSH Key and save the exported file.

Save it as npp.ppk (maybe) and then use this in the Notepad++ Private key file path.

Answer 3

Go to C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\plugins\config\NppFTP

and delete the entry of the host in that file and try re-connecting.