# Creating a Key Pair

#### Context

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

1. On the management console, click Service List, and choose Computing > Elastic Cloud Server to launch the ECS console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Key Pair.
3. Click Create Key Pair.
4. 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.

5. 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.

Parent topic: Appendix