However when I try to connect over the internet: Although I do not understand why I am asked for approval since the public key of the laptop is in the authorized_keys file in the desktop (?) Over the local network when trying to connect from the laptop I am asked to approve authentication of the desktop machine. What tests can I do to try to solve this lack of connection? The router ports? Is this a sign that the port forward setting on the router is having some effect at least?
I used the 'shields up' site to look at ports, and it sees a closed port (in this case) at 222, while other ports are full stealth. Having set up router port forwarding for say incoming TCP port 222 at the router, to go to (NAT) machine 192.168.0.192, is there a way to test this out? Ssh was asked for the key pass phrase then the user password, and appeared to be connected ok. If I sit at the desktop and ssh into itself at local host I am editing the files ssh_config (laptop) and sshd_config (desktop) for the port number. This happens even if I set to use a non standard port such as 2222 or another, also. Ssh: connect to host port 22: Connection refused However, it looks as if the port forwarding is not happening, or anyway, I get a response when using The router instructions seem clear enough, and I am following them. With the same two machines, (a laptop trying to connect into a desktop), in a different location, and significantly now using a completely different router which handles port forwarding in a very different way to the way the vigor did. The same keys are still in place in the two machines so I am not expecting a problem with them (?)
It was confusing at first but I think I got the hang of it and I could connect to one machine using its internet IP address, with vnc through an ssh tunnel, using keys, from another machine.
I successfully got into the basics of ssh, vnc and port forwarding recently when I was using my home vigor 2600 router. I am almost concluding here that my new netgear router does not work as it is supposed to.(!)