AWS EC2: Steps to enable root access with your local key - Inspired by: https://forums.aws.amazon.com/thread.jspa?threadID=86876

aws_ec2_root.md

Note: replace {{server}} with your domain or ip

• Login as the ec2-user

ssh -i key.pem ec2-user@{{server}}

• Switch to administrator

sudo -i

• Load the configuration file

sudo vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

• Make sure these are enabled:

	PermitRootLogin yes
	# Only allow root to run commands over ssh, no shell
	#PermitRootLogin forced-commands-only
	RSAAuthentication yes
	PubkeyAuthentication yes
	AuthorizedKeysFile     .ssh/authorized_keys

• copy your local public key to the authorized list

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub | ssh root@{{server}} 'cat - >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys'

• Make sure the files have the right permisions

chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 700 ~/.ssh/

• Restart the service

sudo service sshd reload

• Exit and try to login again

exit
ssh root@{{server}}