In order to connect to your Metric Insights server from Windows, you will need to install an SSH client such as PuTTY. This article assumes that you will use PuTTY.
1. Download PuTTY and PuTTYgen
PuTTY and PuTTYgen can be downloaded from http://www.putty.org. They are executable files -- no installation is required.
2. Use PuTTYgen to generate a public/private key pair
Start PuTTYgen and generate a public/private key pair. The key-type should be SSH-2 RSA. We recommend keys with at least 2048 bits.
3. Save your public and private keys
Enter a "key comment" that will help you to remember the purpose of the key-pair, then save the public and private keys that you generated. Send the public key to the person who administers your Metric Insights server. Keep the private key to yourself -- treat it like a secret password. (You can protect your private key with a "key passphrase" if you like.)
4. Create a new SSH connection
Start PuTTY and select Connection => SSH => Auth in the category navigator, then enter the path and name of your private key file in the text box.
4.1. Enter the hostname for your Metric Insights server
Select 'Session' in the category navigator, then enter the hostname for your Metric Insights server. The port number should be set to 22. (That's the default port for SSH connections.) Enter a name for your new SSH connection and click 'Save'.
5. Connect to your Metric Insights server
Load the connection that you created in the previous step, then click 'Open'.
5.1. Ignore the warning message
If this is the first time you're connecting to your Metric insights server, you may receive a warning message. Assuming that you've entered the correct hostname for your server, you can ignore the warning.
6. Login as root
Enter 'root' at the login prompt. Assuming that your Metric Insights administrator has correctly installed your private key, you will not be prompted for a password.