Avamar: How to Log in to an Avamar Server and Load Various Keys.

Summary: The purpose of this article is to describe how to log in to an Avamar grid (or utility node) and load the different system keys.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

When troubleshooting Avamar issues, it may be necessary to communicate to all nodes or gain password-less access to all nodes. Loading the keys allows such access.

This article does not describe how to troubleshoot issues with Avamar keys.

The steps below provide information for logging in to an Avamar server and then loading various keys.

Logging in:

1. Download PuTTY (or equivalent)

2. Open the PuTTY window by clicking the executable. 

For example:

Putty Configuration

 

3. In the hostname or IP field, specify the Avamar Utility Node name or IP address and click Open.

If prompted, accept the security key, and click Yes to continue.

4. Log in using the admin credentials.

Note: The direct root login over SSH is disabled on Avamar by default. 
 

The root privileges can be achieved by logging in as admin and using the below command as per the following example. This requires the root account password.

su -
 
 

Loading Various Keys:

  • From Avamar 7.3: Load the admin keys using the following commands as admin:
ssh-agent bash
ssh-add ~/.ssh/admin_key
 
  • From Avamar 7.3: Load the root keys using the following commands as root:
ssh-agent bash
ssh-add ~/.ssh/rootid
 
Note: Avamar versions 7.2 and earlier loaded the dpnid keys. Although this is no longer supported, the commands are in the Additional Info section for reference.

Additional Information

  • For Avamar 7.2 and earlier (no longer supported): Load the dpnid keys using the following commands as admin or dpn:
    (Avamar versions 7.2 and earlier used the dpnid key for password-less access)
ssh-agent bash
ssh-add ~/.ssh/dpnid
 
  • For Avamar 7.2 and earlier (no longer supported): Load the dpnid keys using the following commands as root:
    (As above, Avamar versions 7.2 and earlier used the dpnid key for password-less access)
ssh-agent bash
ssh-add /home/admin/.ssh/dpnid

Affected Products

Avamar, Avamar Data Store, Avamar Server

Products

Avamar
Article Properties
Article Number: 000023515
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 14 Oct 2025
Version:  12
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