How do I connect to a server from my windows box using an id_rsa key file

[ndedhia1]

I was wondering how I connect to a server, using a password, login and needing to look up a key in an id_rsa file?

I was able to log into the box before just using the password and login, but security has gotten tighter, so now we need to public/private key.
I have the keys on my pc in a file called id_rsa and id_rsa.pub.

Before, I was doing this, which worked:

IgnoreHostKeyVerification hostKey = new IgnoreHostKeyVerification();
        SshClient ssh = new SshClient();
        ssh.connect(Initializer.server, 22, hostKey);
        //Authenticate
        PasswordAuthenticationClient passwordAuthenticationClient = new PasswordAuthenticationClient();
        passwordAuthenticationClient.setUsername(Initializer.userName);
        passwordAuthenticationClient.setPassword(Initializer.password);
        int result = ssh.authenticate(passwordAuthenticationClient);
        if(result != AuthenticationProtocolState.COMPLETE){
                System.out.println("Login to " + Initializer.server + ":" + " " + Initializer.userName + "/" + Initializer.password + " failed");
 
        }
 

But now, Since i have to use the keys, I have been trying a few things, but i cant seem to get it to authenticate.

This is what I have tried so far:

String publicKeyPath = "C:"+File.separator+"Documents and Settings"+File.separator+"dedhia"+File.separator+"Desktop"+File.separator+"id_rsa";
        File key = new File(publicKeyPath);
        if(key.exists())
        {
            System.out.println("THE FILE " + publicKeyPath + " Does Exist");
        }
        else{
            System.out.println("THE FILE DOES NOT EXIST" + publicKeyPath + " Does NOT Exist");
        }
 
        Thread.sleep(3000);
 
        SshClient ssh = new SshClient();
 
        SshConnectionProperties properties = new SshConnectionProperties();
        properties.setHost(Initializer.server);
        properties.setPort(22);
             properties.setPrefPublicKey("publicKeyPath");
 
        System.out.println("PUBLIC KEY IS: " + properties.getPrefPublicKey());
 
        System.out.println("PUBLIC KEY PATH IS: " + publicKeyPath);
        System.out.println("THIS IS AFTER THE SETPREFPUBLICKEY");
 
        ssh.connect(properties, new HostKeyVerification() {
            public boolean verifyHost(String host, SshPublicKey pk)
                    throws TransportProtocolException {
                // TODO Auto-generated method stub
                System.out.println("VERIFYING HOST: " + host);
                System.out.println("PK IS: " + pk);
 
                return true;
            }
        });
        System.out.println("THIS IS AFTER THE SSH.CONNECT");
 
        PasswordAuthenticationClient passwordAuthenticationClient = new PasswordAuthenticationClient();
        passwordAuthenticationClient.setUsername(Initializer.userName);
        passwordAuthenticationClient.setPassword(Initializer.password);
        int result = ssh.authenticate(passwordAuthenticationClient);
        System.out.println("RESULT IS: " + result);
        if(result != AuthenticationProtocolState.COMPLETE){
                System.out.println("Login to " + Initializer.server + ":" + " " + Initializer.userName + "/" + Initializer.password + " failed");
 
        }
 

When i get print the result, it always comes as a 2, which is failed.

Please help!!

thanks