User-root Role

Description: Host-level role provisioning a root RSA 4096-bit SSH key pair for secure automated administrative access

Variables

  • author: Kevin Veen-Birkenbach

  • description: Host-level role provisioning a root RSA 4096-bit SSH key pair for secure automated administrative access

  • license: Infinito.Nexus Community License (Non-Commercial)

  • company: Kevin Veen-Birkenbach https://www.veen.world

  • min_ansible_version: 2.9

  • platforms: [{‘name’: ‘ArchLinux’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Debian’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘EL’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Fedora’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}, {‘name’: ‘Ubuntu’, ‘versions’: [‘all’]}]

  • galaxy_tags: [‘ssh’, ‘root’, ‘administrator’, ‘security’, ‘user’, ‘configuration’]

  • issue_tracker_url: https://s.infinito.nexus/issues

README

Root User

Description

This role manages the generation and handling of an SSH key for the root user on a target system. It ensures that an SSH key is generated if one does not already exist and outputs the public key, enabling secure SSH access for the root user in automated environments.

Overview

Optimized for secure system administration, this role performs the following tasks:

  • Verifies the existence of a root SSH public key.

  • Generates a new RSA 4096-bit SSH key pair for the root user if one is missing.

  • Displays and outputs the generated public SSH key.

  • Ensures that the key generation and display tasks run only once to maintain idempotency.

  • Facilitates secure remote access using best practices for SSH.

Cosmos

The diagram places Root User in the Infinito.Nexus cosmos: the components it deploys (capabilities), the central services it consumes (dependencies), and its outward reach (federation and bridged external networks).

flowchart LR
    subgraph role [user-root 💻]
        svc_root["root"]
    end

Solid 1:1 edges are fixed relationships; dashed 0..1 edges are conditional (enabled only in matching deployments); red 0..0 edges are turned off in this role. Node markers show the role’s deploy modes (💻 host, 🐳 compose, 🐝 swarm); ❌ marks a service that is explicitly turned off, and ⚙️ an Ansible role dependency declared in meta/main.yml.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to enhance the security of the system by ensuring that a valid SSH key is available for the root user. By automating the generation and output of the public key, it reduces manual intervention and helps maintain a secure configuration for administrative access.

Features

  • SSH Key Verification: Checks whether a root SSH public key exists.

  • SSH Key Generation: Generates a new RSA 4096-bit SSH key pair for the root user if needed.

  • Public Key Output: Displays and outputs the generated public SSH key.

  • Idempotency: Ensures that key generation and output tasks execute only once.

  • Secure Remote Access: Facilitates secure remote access by providing a verified public key for use with SSH.

Credits

Implemented by Kevin Veen-Birkenbach. Part of the Infinito.Nexus Project and maintained by Kevin Veen-Birkenbach. Licensed under the Infinito.Nexus Community License (Non-Commercial).