authorized_keys2 directory idea

[Pekka Savola]

On Sun, 3 Jun 2001, Jim Knoble wrote:
> Circa 2001-Jun-03 11:46:04 +0200 dixit Markus Friedl:
>
> : i don't understand why editing a file is hard.
>
> Editing a file is hard for many inexperienced users.  Especially a file
> that contains very long lines filled with what appears to meaningless
> random letters and numbers.
>
> Using a directory format has the potential to make it significantly
> easier for users to install public keys onto a remote system.  Instead
> of having to use a complicated set of shell commands such as:
>
>   cat ~/.ssh/identity.pub |ssh remote-host 'cat >>~/.ssh/authorized_keys2'

And there is another complication here (which often goes wrong with novice
users): the file's permissions usually go wrong due to common non-strict
umask when the file is being created.

-- 
Pekka Savola                 "Tell me of difficulties surmounted,
Netcore Oy                   not those you stumble over and fall"
Systems. Networks. Security.  -- Robert Jordan: A Crown of Swords