Ssh – How to configure ssh client to use private keys automatically

sshssh-keys

I'm always running ssh with the -i parameter and it's a hassle to always type in the correct key for whatever host I'm connecting to.

Is there a config file or something (on Mac) to define which private key to use when connecting to a particular host?

Best Answer

Yes, you want to create a ~/.ssh/config file. That lets you define a shortcut name for a host, the username you want to connect as, and which key to use. Here's part of mine, with hostnames obfuscated:

Host tabs
     HostName tabs.com
     User     me
     IdentityFile       ~/.ssh/new_rsa

Host scm.company.com
     User       cap
     IdentityFile       ~/.ssh/git_rsa

Host project-staging
     HostName 50.56.101.167
     User     me
     IdentityFile       ~/.ssh/new_rsa

With this I can say, ssh tabs and get connected to host tabs.com as user me, with key new_rsa, as though I'd used ssh me@tabs.com -i ~/.ssh/new_rsa.

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