* LinuxNewbie :
> i have created a identity key with ssh-keygen and copied this files to
> my Win XP station. When i try to logon with putty at my linux box i
> get the same logon screen with the logon and password to fill in!?

Two things. First you need to enable public key authentication on the
ssh server. It's in the manual for sshd_config, and it is likely the
option is already present in your sshd_config but commented-out. Sort
that out and restart the server.

By the way, don't *read* the manual. Open the manual, and use your
pager to *search* down to the part you want. Then you're reading only
relevant information. Apologies if this is obvious, but newcomers often
complain that the manuals are "too long and too hard". They ain't!

Second, last I used it PuTTY was not able to use an ssh key 'out of the
box'. Unless that's changed, don't forget you need to run the key
through PuTTY's converter first.

--
Andrew Preater