ssh-keys-for-multiple-github-accounts

Description

Use ssh agent, host aliases and keys in ssh config file for handling two or more Github accounts: 'personaluser' and 'workuser' on signle computer

Detail Steps

1. Generate ssh key pairs for accounts and add them to GitHub accounts.

2. Edit/Create ssh config file (~/.ssh/config):

   # Default github account: personaluser
   Host github.com
      HostName github.com
      IdentityFile ~/.ssh/personaluser_private_key
      IdentitiesOnly yes
      
   # Other github account: workuser
   Host github-workuser
      HostName github.com
      IdentityFile ~/.ssh/workuser_private_key
      IdentitiesOnly yes
   

3. Add ssh private keys to your agent:

   $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/personaluser_private_key
   $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/workuser_private_key

   This only stays for that session. If you want to load automatically, add below code to be executed as default everytime config file (~/.ssh/config) is invoked

     Host *
      AddKeysToAgent yes
      # Additional common settings you can use for connecting remote servers using ssh
      # Not needed if you are using only git commands 
      # ServerAliveInterval 300
      # ServerAliveCountMax 2
      # Jump through more hosts
      # ProxyJump user@host1,user@host2,user@host3

4. Test your connection

   $ ssh -T [email protected]
   $ ssh -T git@github-workuser

   With each command, you may see this kind of warning, type yes:

   The authenticity of host 'github.com (ip address)' can't be established.
   RSA key fingerprint is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:
   Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

   If everything is OK, you will see these messages:

   Hi personaluser! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

   Hi workuser! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

5. Now all are set, just clone your repositories

   $ git clone git@github-workuser:org/repository-name.git /path/to/repository
   $ cd /path/to/repository
   $ git config user.email "[email protected]"
   $ git config user.name  "Firstname Lastname"