I'm a beginner and I completely stuck on this lvl. I've tried and followed along like 5 tutorials and it's still wrong.

The problem is not about getting the KEY, but about creating a temporary directory and saving the key via /nano or /vim.

Here, with vim(i can add with nano), from the site https://david-varghese.medium.com/overthewire-bandit-level-16-level-17-c137701b3af1 )

dxviW8+TFVEBl1O4f7HVm6EpTscdDxU+bCXWkfjuRb7Dy9GOtt9JPsX8MBTakzh3

vBgsyi/sN3RqRBcGU40fOoZyfAMT8s1m/uYv52O6IgeuZ/ujbjY=

-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----

^C

bandit16@bandit:~$ mkdir /tmp/random_sshkey

bandit16@bandit:~$ cd /tmp/random_sshkey

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ touch private.key

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ vim private.key

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ chmod 400 private.key

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ ls -l

total 4

-r-------- 1 bandit16 bandit16 1675 Feb 2 12:31 private.key

So far so good, but then I try to connect to 17lvl:

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ ssh -i private.key bandit17@localhost

The authenticity of host 'localhost (127.0.0.1)' can't be established.

ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:C2ihUBV7ihnV1wUXRb4RrEcLfXC5CXlhmAAM/urerLY.

This key is not known by any other names.

Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes

Could not create directory '/home/bandit16/.ssh' (Permission denied).

Failed to add the host to the list of known hosts (/home/bandit16/.ssh/known_hosts).

This is an OverTheWire game server.

More information on http://www.overthewire.org/wargames

!!! You are trying to log into this SSH server on port 22, which is not intended.

!!! If you are trying to log in to an OverTheWire game, use the port mentioned in

!!! the "SSH Information" on that game's webpage (in the top left corner).

bandit17@localhost: Permission denied (publickey).

AGAIN:

bandit16@bandit:/tmp/random_sshkey$ ssh -i private.key -p 2220 bandit17@localhost

The authenticity of host '[localhost]:2220 ([127.0.0.1]:2220)' can't be established.

ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:C2ihUBV7ihnV1wUXRb4RrEcLfXC5CXlhmAAM/urerLY.

This key is not known by any other names.

Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes

Could not create directory '/home/bandit16/.ssh' (Permission denied).

Failed to add the host to the list of known hosts (/home/bandit16/.ssh/known_hosts).

This is an OverTheWire game server.

More information on http://www.overthewire.org/wargames

!!! You are trying to log into this SSH server with a password on port 2220 from localhost.

!!! Connecting from localhost is blocked to conserve resources.

!!! Please log out and log in again.

backend: gibson-1

Received disconnect from 127.0.0.1 port 2220:2: no authentication methods enabled

Disconnected from 127.0.0.1 port 2220

I am completely stuck and can't understand what is wrong. I've tried it with port 22/2220, different folders names, sshkey.private and so on, still doesn't work