How to create JumpHost config file setup ?

Introduction

A jump host, also known as a jump server or bastion host, is a secure server that acts as an intermediary for accessing servers in a private network. This guide will walk you through setting up a jump host configuration in your SSH config file, allowing you to securely access AWS EC2 instances through a jump server.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

1. SSH access to your jump server (`jumpbox.airmeet.com`).

1. SSH access to your AWS EC2 instances.

1. An SSH key pair (`id_rsa` and `id_rsa.pub`) stored in `~/.ssh/`.

1. Appropriate permissions to edit your SSH config file.

Steps to Set Up the SSH Config File

1. Create the SSH Config File:

• Open your terminal.

• Create the SSH config file if it does not already exist:

  touch ~/.ssh/config

2. Edit the SSH Config File:

• Open the SSH config file in your preferred text editor:

nano ~/.ssh/config

• Update the config file with the following lines:

  Host jump
  Hostname jumpbox.airmeet.com
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
  User your_username_here
  Host *.compute.amazonaws.com
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
  Port 22
  User your_username_here
  ProxyCommand ssh -q -W %h:%p jump

Replace `your_username_here` with your actual username.

3. Save and Close the File:

• Save the changes and close the editor (e.g., press `Ctrl+O` to save and `Ctrl+X` to exit in nano).

4. Verify Permissions:

• Ensure that your SSH config file has the correct permissions:

 chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config

Connecting to Your AWS EC2 Instances

1. SSH to the Target Host:

• Use the following command to SSH into your AWS EC2 instance:

 ssh ec2-15-206-125-59.ap-south-1.compute.amazonaws.com

• You will be logged into the destination server via the jump box server.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have configured your SSH to use a jump host for accessing AWS EC2 instances. This setup enhances security by funneling all SSH traffic through a centralized and secure jump server. Always ensure your jump server is well-protected, as it serves as the gateway to your internal network resources.