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SSH Key Managment for Multiple Git Accounts

I am trying to create Multiple SSH keys for multiple git accounts. For now, I have one Github account and two Gitlab accounts, I could not find the guide for Multiple accounts across multiple git platforms. Can you help me with it.

Keys are:

  1. id_rsa_github git username is demetere
  2. id_rsa_gitlab git username is demetere
  3. id_rsa_gitlab_identomat git username is demetere._

I literally need help with agent and cloning and pushing permissions. I generated 3 keys for each account and added them to accounts and also added to the agent. The only thing left is the config file and also if there is anything specific I need to do when cloning repos and pushing.

Also when I am a contributor to other users' repos how can I clone that with the correct Host? Thanks

Solution

  • The main idea is to use ~/.ssh/config to assign a "Host" entry to each of your accounts:

    Host ghuser1
  Hostname github.com
  User git
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/key1

Host gluser1
  Hostname gitlab.com
  User git
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/keyg1

Host gluser2
  Hostname gitlab.com
  User git
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/keyg2

    That means, for cloning, you will need to use that "Host" entry:

    git clone ghuser1:me/MyRepo

    You can also test the authentication with:

    ssh -Tv ghuser1
ssh -Tv gluser1
ssh -Tv gluser2

    A few notes:

    • the User is always git, never your GitHub or GitLab account username.
    • the authentication is needed in order to determine if your account has the right to access a private repository (you must be added as collaborator).
      For a public repository, this is less important.