Debian default ssh configuration problem with public/private key checking

[- Tong - <mlist4suntong@yahoo.com>]

Hi, 

I'm trying to setup Debian to accept my remote ssh
login. No problem with that, but I'm facing a
configuration problem: 

It doesn't seem to be able to handle/accept the public/private key
checking, i.e.,what sourceforge.net is doing [1], but insists on checking
login password [2], which is not a recommended practice.

This is a vanilla sshd configuration. I.e., everything from Debian default. 
What changes should I make to enable the public/private key Authentication?

thanks

[1] Correct log to ssh into sourceforge.net:

 debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct
 [...]
 debug1: Authentications that can continue:
publickey,password
 debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
 debug1: Offering public key: /home/dsl/.ssh/id_rsa
 debug1: Server accepts key: pkalg ssh-rsa blen 149

[2] My own Debian sshd server:

 debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct
 [...]
 debug1: Authentications that can continue:
publickey,password,keyboard-interactive
 debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
 debug1: Offering public key: /home/dsl/.ssh/id_rsa
 debug1: Authentications that can continue:
publickey,password,keyboard-interactive



-- 
Tong (remove underscore(s) to reply)
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