Switching between multiple ssh keys in Git on Windows

Question

I need to have multiple keys in my client to access two different accounts on Repository hosting. See https://redefy.repositoryhosting.com/support -> How do I manage multiple accounts with multiple keypairs on my client?

I do not understand how to change between different ssh keys in Git on Windows, can anybody help me?

You can find more about setting up ssh in Best way to use multiple ssh private keys on one client — peron
– peron, Commented May 6, 2012 at 7:52

fajran · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-13 08:43:24Z

76

I assume you use git bash and openssh.

Like what it's written in the article, you can make a configuration file for ssh client that lists all of your accounts. You can write the following configuration in your own ssh client configuration file in ~/.ssh/config

Host account-one
HostName server.example.com
User user-one
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/key-one

Host account-two
HostName server.example.com
User user-two
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/key-two

What it says is you define two, kind of, "host aliases" named account-one and account-two. If you use them, when making connection, the ssh client will use the corresponding HostName, User, and IdentityFile for the server address, username, and ssh key file. With this you can use them to access your accounts and keys at even the same server.

In git, you can define two remotes using them

$ git remote add one account-one:repository.git
$ git remote add two account-two:repository.git

then you can push to those remotes

$ git push one master
$ git push two master

answered Mar 13, 2012 at 8:43

fajran

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7 Comments

Tariq Over a year ago

hi, How will I clone using this config file. "$ git clone one repositoyr.git master" gives error "Too many arguments"

fajran Over a year ago

Don't forget to add colon between the hostname and repository path. In your case it would be one:repositoyr.git

Shridutt Kothari Over a year ago

as specified in document here linux.die.net/man/5/ssh_config IdentityFile Specifies a file from which the user's RSA or DSA authentication identity is read. The file name may use the tilde syntax to refer to a user's home directory or one of the following escape characters: '%d' (local user's home directory), '%u' (local user name), '%l' (local host name), '%h' (remote host name) or '%r' (remote user name). for example IdentityFile %u/.ssh/id_rsa

Putnik Over a year ago

Is there any way to access two repos on the same host using separate user for each repo?

JohnLBevan Over a year ago

@Putnik see danielwertheim.se/…

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mamapitufo · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-13 08:39:30Z

18

Which key is used for which server is handled by the SSH program that git is using to connect. In the default setup this should be the command line SSH client (openSSH?).

Using openSSH you can configure particular keyfiles for particular hosts in the ~/.ssh/config file:

Host foo.example.com
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/foo.example.com-id_rsa

Host bar.example.com
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/bar.example.com-id_rsa

Where ~/.ssh/*.example.com-id_rsa are the private key files for each server.

I hope this helps.

answered Mar 13, 2012 at 8:39

mamapitufo

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8 Comments

Benny Neugebauer Over a year ago

Should the paths have forward slashes even if you are running on Windows?

mamapitufo Over a year ago

all of those paths are unix-like, so if you are using cygwin on windows,they'll work, if you are using something else as your shell, you will need to adjust them.

Benny Neugebauer Over a year ago

Thanks! I just saw that you can also use sth. like "/C/Users/Benny/.ssh/id_rsa" on Windows.

Tariq Over a year ago

I am connecting to a non-default port (22)in SSH. Where shall I specify this port in the config file?

mamapitufo Over a year ago

just include Port 2666 or whatever the port is, in the specific host section.

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Daniel S. · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-13 08:19:41Z

2

On Windows you should try Pageant an SSH authentication agent for PuTTY, PSCP, PSFTP, and Plink. This tool can manage yout ssh keys and its pass-phrases. To use it together with Git you have to install Putty and link to the plink.exe setting the GIT_SSH variable.

Install Putty and friends (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html)
Set GIT_SSH

set GIT_SSH=<path-to-plink.exe>
Start Pageant and add you keys
Run Git

hth Daniel

answered Mar 13, 2012 at 8:19

Daniel S.

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2 Comments

Doan Over a year ago

I am awared that this thread is very old, but I have similar problem. Don't you need everytime if you want to work git to start Pageant?

grzegorz Over a year ago

@Doan Yes you need. I added it to scheduled tasks.

Abdul Gaffar · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-06 08:22:25Z

1

In my case, I use

Host account-one
User git

not

Host account-one
User user-any

edited Jun 6, 2022 at 8:22

answered Jun 6, 2022 at 8:19

Abdul Gaffar

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1 Comment

A.E. Drew Over a year ago

This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review

sethcall · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-12 19:00:10Z

0

I'll answer this a little indirectly. I have previously used git bash and I've found that when I'm using git via the git bash shell, that it behaves just like a mac or linux bash shell. Meaning, when using git bash, that I can answer your question like:

'If you use git bash, you can manage multiple accounts just as you would if you were on linux or mac, using ssh-agent/ssh-add and friends'

answered Mar 12, 2012 at 19:00

sethcall

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