Begginner SSH question

["VI" <vi () vizo com>]

 Hi,

I want to use port forwarding with SSH between two WXP pro boxes. The remote
box must be a server and SSH must be run as a service.

The questions: 
1- I think I need to create two ids(public Keys) and two private keys, one
for each box. Is this true?  
2- In which folder do I have to put these keys?
3- How do I specify the path of these keys from command line when using ssh?
4- Can I create the keys in OpenSSL, and use AES too? If yes what would be
the format of the keys?

Thanks for answers