Convert PuTTY Registry Entry (.ppk) to OpenSSH for MySQL Workbench Connection

Convert PuTTY Registry Entry (.ppk) to OpenSSH MySQL Workbench Connection

If you have been using PuTTY to connect to remote MySQL database servers and now want to switch to MySQL Workbench, you may find it necessary to convert your existing PuTTY SSH key (.ppk) to an OpenSSH format. This article will guide you through the process, as well as creating a new connection in MySQL Workbench using the converted key.

Why Convert PuTTY Registry Entry (.ppk) to OpenSSH Format?

MySQL Workbench only accepts SSH keys in the OpenSSH format. If you have been using PuTTY and have an existing SSH key in the .ppk format, you will need to convert it.

Converting PuTTY Registry Entry (.ppk) to OpenSSH Format

The conversion process involves generating an OpenSSH private key from the PuTTY SSH key. Here are the steps:

1. Launch PuTTYgen, which can be found in the PuTTY installation directory.
2. Select the .ppk key file by clicking the Load button and navigating to its location.
3. Enter the passphrase for the key (if any) and click the Decrypt button.
4. Once the key is decrypted, click the Conversions menu > Export OpenSSH key, then enter a file name with the ".openssh" extension and save it.

Creating an OpenSSH MySQL Workbench Connection

Now that you have generated the OpenSSH key, you can proceed to create a new connection in MySQL Workbench using the key.

1. Launch MySQL Workbench and click the + button to create a new connection.
2. Enter a name for the connection and select the SSH tab.
3. In the SSH Key File field, browse and locate the OpenSSH key you generated in the previous section.
4. Enter the SSH Hostname and Port of the remote MySQL database server, as well as the Username.
5. In the MySQL Hostname and Port fields, enter the appropriate values for the MySQL instance on the remote server.
6. Click the Test Connection button and enter the passphrase (if any) for the SSH key.
7. Save the connection settings.

• Use PuTTYgen to convert a PuTTY registry entry (.ppk) to an OpenSSH private key.
• Create a new connection in MySQL Workbench using the converted OpenSSH key, SSH hostname, and MySQL instance information.

References

• Books:
  • Mastering MySQL Workbench – Inside and Out
• Online Resources:
  • MySQL Workbench SSH Settings
  • Converting PuTTY Keys to OpenSSH.