Unable to connect via SSH to linux server with PPK authentication from windows system via Gitbash

Question

I am not sure if this question is supposed to be asked here.

The instructions/steps to connect to this server have not been clear from the team which gives these.

I have got a key file named "client_key" which is apparently a PEM file. I am not sure if that is a PEM file though. I don't know how to verify it.

I kept it in my system at C:\\Users\\sandeepan\\

I am trying to connect via SSH to a server like this -

$ ssh -i client_key root@<IP> -p 2222
ssh: connect to host <IP> port 2222: Connection timed out

I have been given the network level access it seems. Can someone point out if I am doing anything wrong in running the ssh command? Or do I need to use some other format of the given key?

Update

$ ssh -i client_key root@<IP> -p 2222 -vv
OpenSSH_7.5p1, OpenSSL 1.0.2k  26 Jan 2017
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug2: resolving "<IP>" port 2222
debug2: ssh_connect_direct: needpriv 0
debug1: Connecting to <IP> [<IP>] port 2222.
debug1: connect to address <IP> port 2222: Connection timed out
ssh: connect to host <IP> port 2222: Connection timed out

Answer 1

First, make sure that the ssh server you are trying to connect is listening on port 2222 . If yes, then review your firewall rules.

Second, root user access over ssh is usually disabled.