x11-ssh-askpass is an X11-based passphrase dialog for use with OpenSSH. To utilize this service, you will need a private SSH key in $HOME/.ssh/ If you log on using kdm, then just create a $HOME/.xprofile with the contents of /usr/doc/x11-ssh-askpass-1.2.4.1/xprofile.sample If you are launching X from console (with startx), then you can edit your $HOME/.xinitrc to source the $HOME/.xprofile or just add the contents of $HOME/.xprofile to $HOME/.xinitrc to it. Of course, there are other acceptable ways to accomplish the same thing - gurus can roll their own.