LayerRail uses SSH public keys for VM access. You add the public key during VM creation and keep the private key on your machine.
Generate a key
If you do not already have an SSH key, create one locally:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"
Show the public key:
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
Paste that public key into the VM creation form.
Connect to a VM
ssh <username>@<public-ip>
For Ubuntu images, the default user is usually:
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Check |
|---|
| Permission denied | Confirm you are using the private key that matches the public key on the VM. |
| Connection timed out | Confirm the VM is running and port 22 is allowed by the firewall. |
| Wrong username | Check the username field on the VM creation page. |
| Key format rejected | Use an OpenSSH public key, not a private key or .ppk file. |
Never paste your private SSH key into LayerRail or a support ticket.