Use SSH Keys to clone GIT Repository using SSH

 

1. Generate a New SSH Key Pair

bash

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "HSingh@MindTelligent.com"

• -t rsa specifies the type of key (RSA in this case).
• -b 4096 sets the number of bits for the key length (4096 is more secure).
• -C "HSingh@MindTelligent.com" adds a comment (usually your email) to help identify the key.

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2. Save the Key Files

• You will be prompted to enter a file name and location to save the key pair:

  bash
  
  Enter file in which to save the key (/home/user/.ssh/id_rsa):
  

  • Press Enter to save it in the default location (~/.ssh/id_rsa).
  • Or specify a custom path if you want multiple keys.

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3. Set a Passphrase (Optional)

You will be asked:

Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):

• Enter a passphrase for extra security, or press Enter for no passphrase.

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4. View the Public Key

bash

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

This will display the public key, which you can copy to add to remote servers or platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or AWS.

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5. Add Key to SSH Agent (Optional for Convenience)

bash

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"    # Start the SSH agent

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa     # Add the key to the agent

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6. Add SSH Key to Git Hosting Provider

• GitHub: Go to Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH Key and paste the contents of your public key:

bash

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

• GitLab/Bitbucket: Follow similar steps under SSH Keys settings.

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7. Test SSH Connection

Test the SSH connection to your hosting provider:

• For GitHub:

bash

ssh -T git@github.com

• For GitLab:

bash

ssh -T git@gitlab.com

You should see a success message, e.g.:

rust
Hi username! You've successfully authenticated.

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8. Clone Repository Using SSH

Copy the SSH URL of the repository from the hosting provider. It looks like:

scss
git@github.com:username/repo.git

Then, clone it:

bash
git clone git@github.com:username/repo.git