:original_name: cce_02_0101.html

.. _cce_02_0101:

Creating a Key Pair
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Context
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Create a key pair before you create a container cluster. Key pairs are used for user identity authentication upon login to a node.

If you have already created a key pair, you do not need to create it again.

Procedure
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#. On the management console, click **Service List**, and choose **Computing** > **Elastic Cloud Server** to launch the ECS console.

#. In the navigation pane, choose **Key Pair**.

#. Click **Create Key Pair**.

#. Enter a key pair name and click **OK**.

   The key pair name must be 1 to 64 characters long. Only letters, digits, hyphens (-), and underscores (_) are allowed.

#. In the displayed dialog box, click **OK**.

   A key file in the **.pem** format is generated and automatically saved to the default directory on your local computer.