How do I use GitHub with SSH without having to run ssh-agent?

Question

In order to push/pull from GitHub using SSH, I have to...

$ eval $(ssh-agent -s)
$ ssh-add ~/.ssh/git_id_rsa
$ git push origin master

However, when I push/pull to remote git repositories I host on my own private server, I can skip the whole ssh-agent stuff and simply

$ git push origin master

How do I do the same with GitHub (push/pull without ssh-agent set-up and ssh-add)?

My id_rsa keys do not have passphrases associated with them
I am comfortable with the level of security this provides
I know how to set-up bash aliases for these, and run them on start-up/bash exit, but I would rather not deal with them at all

zigarn · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-22 13:45:59Z

23

You can use config file in .ssh directory of your user in order to configure key for particular server:

# ~/.ssh/config
Host github.com
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/git_id_rsa

You can find more detail on Simplify Your Life With an SSH Config File.

edited Jun 22, 2017 at 13:45

zigarn

11.7k2 gold badges37 silver badges48 bronze badges

answered Jun 22, 2017 at 13:39

NauT

4363 silver badges7 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

ning Over a year ago

Worked! I was already using a ssh_config file, but my Host was github.com:username, and I had configs under that. I think one of those may have been the issue here.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How do I use GitHub with SSH without having to run ssh-agent?

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related