---
title: "auto find ssh keys"
date: 2020-08-12T12:14:15+02:00
draft: false
snippet_types:
- ssh
---

I use to always pass a key when sshing ex:

```shell
$ ssh -i ~/.ssh/de2 travis@vxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.megasrv.de
```
That can be a bit annoying. I know two fixes:

# add private key to ssh-agent

```shell
$ ssh-add ~/.ssh/de2
```

Now when you ssh you need not include the `-i ~/.ssh/de2` because the ssh-agent will find it
automatically.

*\*note: this resets once you reboot*

# configure individual host

You can configure individual hosts to use a spefic private key my editing your `~/.ssh/config`:

```
Host de2
    HostName vxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.megasrv.de
    User travis
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/de2
```

Now you only need to

```shell
$ ssh de2
```

source -- https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-per-host-ssh-configuration/