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@oanhnn
Last active December 3, 2024 23:15
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Using multiple github accounts with ssh keys

Problem

I have two Github accounts: oanhnn (personal) and superman (for work). I want to use both accounts on same computer (without typing password everytime, when doing git push or pull).

Solution

Use ssh keys and define host aliases in ssh config file (each alias for an account).

How to?

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

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

    # Default github account: oanhnn
    Host github.com
       HostName github.com
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/oanhnn_private_key
       IdentitiesOnly yes
       
    # Other github account: superman
    Host github-superman
       HostName github.com
       IdentityFile ~/.ssh/superman_private_key
       IdentitiesOnly yes
    

    NOTE: If you use any account frequently, you should use the default hostname (github.com).

  3. Add ssh private keys to your agent:

    $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/oanhnn_private_key
    $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/superman_private_key
  4. Test your connection

    $ ssh-keyscan github.com >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
    $ ssh -T git@github.com
    $ ssh -T git@github-superman

    If everything is OK, you will see these messages:

    Hi oanhnn! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
    Hi superman! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
  5. Now all are set, you need remeber

    git@github-superman:org/project.git => user is superman
    git@github.com:org/project.git.     => user is oanhnn
    
  • If you need clone a repository, just do:
$ git clone git@github-superman:org1/project1.git /path/to/project1
$ cd /path/to/project1
$ git config user.email "superman@example.com"
$ git config user.name  "Super Man"
  • If you already have the repo set up, after the ssh config instructions, you need change the URL of origin, just do:
$ cd /path/to/project2
$ git remote set-url origin git@github-superman:org2/project2.git
$ git config user.email "superman@example.com"
$ git config user.name  "Super Man"
  • If you are creating a new repository on local:
$ cd /path/to/project3
$ git init
$ git remote add origin git@github-superman:org3/project3.git
$ git config user.email "superman@example.com"
$ git config user.name  "Super Man"
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Initial commit"
$ git push -u origin master

Done! Goodluck!

Addon:

The bash script that prompts for your git account. Thank @davorpa

#!/bin/bash

# silent prompt
read -p 'GIT profile: ' profile

# switch
case $profile in
  superman)
    git config user.email "superman@example.com"
    git config user.name "superman" 
    git config user.signingKey "superman_gpg_public_key"
    ;;
  oanhnn)
    git config user.email "oanhnn@example.com"
    git config user.name "oanhnn" 
    git config user.signingKey "oanhnn_gpg_public_key"
    ;;
  # default case: raise error
  *)
    >&2 echo "ERR: Unknown profile: $profile"
    exit 1
esac
@webThreeBuilder
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If you already have the repo set up, after the ssh config instructions, just do:

  • Remote is called probably origin
  • I have work and personal accounts, for this I used git@github-personal as host from your SSH config
  • user/repo-name.git for the Github repository

$ git remote set-url origin git@github-personal:user/repo-name.git

Hi, thanks for your good tips 👍, its worked for my case by your great comment, after following the steps above, we also have to reset the remote origin url with our custom "git-acount-host" in the config

@abdeljabarTaoufikallahPro

Thanks man

@akhill4054
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Thank you man! You are a life saver!

@datatravelandexperiments

Thank you! Note that if you have ssh multiplexing set up globally, especially with persistence, you may want to disable it for github, since multiplexing works per-machine and not per Host entry. Add ControlMaster no to each Host configuration.

@silicakes
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This is golden, thanks!

@aicals
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aicals commented Jun 2, 2023

Pure gold! Thanks!

@mahe113vsp
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thank you!

@cognivator
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@jdvivar Many thanks. This host customization works great for tools like SourceTree in which you don't enter the ssh host alias directly.

@kqfu
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kqfu commented Jun 17, 2023

Great post. This is by far the cleanest solution I've found.

@aacassandra
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great! thankyou sir

@rohanrmallya
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Neat! 🔥 Thanks for this. :)

@odooerpdevelopers
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odooerpdevelopers commented Aug 16, 2023

$

Thanks bro, I had problems with this configuration since I work with docker and docker recommends these settings to use remote connections, but in github I had to uncomment those lines and it works fine :)) (~/.ssh/config)
#ControlMaster auto
#ControlPath ~/.ssh/control-%C
#ControlPersist yes

@ImadMAKS
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Thank you for this post; very clear and helpful!
I have a question regarding the host, though. When I change the origin host on my local repo, shouldn't I change it remotely in my GitHub account? I can't figure out how, though.
Maybe I am missing something, but I tried changing it only locally, and I tried to fetch I get from the same repo and I still get:

ERROR: Repository not found.
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.
Please make sure you have the correct access rights, and the repository exists.

I'm wondering what I'm missing.

My config file contains the following:

Host git@github.com
        HostName github.com
	User git
	IdentityFile ~/.ssh/X.pub
	IdentitiesOnly yes
Host git@github.com-work
	HostName github.com
	User git
	IdentityFile ~/.ssh/Y.pub
	IdentitiesOnly yes

I changed my local git repo's URL to git@github.com-work:username/an-example.git

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Aug 18, 2023

@ImadMAKS
Please using Host github.com and Host githut.com-work instead of Host git@github.com and Host git@github.com-work in your config.
After that, you need change remote URL of all repository for work.
You can use below command:

$ git remote set-url origin git@github.com-work:username/an-example.git

@thanhan2101
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Thank for your guide, it works with me.

@arpit-turing
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Thank you mate for this.

@ImadMAKS
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ImadMAKS commented Aug 25, 2023

Please using Host github.com and Host githut.com-work instead of Host git@github.com and Host git@github.com-work in your config

This worked! Thank you.

@jakubkalicki
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Great guide, it helps me a lot! And I can expand this guide with another trick.

In your ~/.gitconfig

[url "git@github.com-company:company_github_account/"]
    insteadOf = git@github.com:company_github_account/

After this setting, you don't have to change URL manually every time when you want to clone repos.

Works flawlessly!

@oanhnn, would you mind including this into your gist?

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Aug 30, 2023

@jakubkalicki
I didn't use that way.
What will happen if I clone git@github.com-company:company_github_account/project1.git and github.com-company:other-org/project2.git after setting up in ~/.gitconfig?

@jakubkalicki
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jakubkalicki commented Aug 30, 2023

It should work as usual. What is cool about the .gitconfig thingy is that it allows for using standard url that you copy from Github repository page. It saves you from changing github.com to the custom Host name, because it will happen automatically. One less thing to remember about.

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Aug 31, 2023

@jakubkalicki
I'm working fine with my configuration.
I'm not sure your configuration is correct in all cases, mine works fine (because it affects to SSH). I also don't have much time to compare and experiment with your configuration.
Sorry for that.
If possible, write a guide for newbies, I can link to it here.

@manzaloros
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manzaloros commented Sep 3, 2023

These instructions didn't work for me.

# Other github account: my personal account
Host <my personal alias>
   HostName github.com
   IdentityFile ~/.ssh/<my private key generated separately from my work private key>
   IdentitiesOnly yes
ssh -T git@<my personal alias>

Hi <my WORK user name>! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

So even though I have the personal alias defined in the ~/.ssh/config, ssh -T returns a response from GitHub that's using my work user name.

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Sep 5, 2023

@manzaloros Can you re-run ssh -vT git@<my personal alias> and see why it is not correct?

@manzaloros
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Thanks @oanhnn . What I don't understand is why once ssh recognizes I have that personal alias it continues to try my work account credentials:

debug1: /Users/<me>/.ssh/config line 9: include ~/.ssh/config.v1.1.67 matched no files
debug1: Reading configuration data /Users/<me>/.ssh/config.custom
debug1: /Users/<me>/.ssh/config.custom line 3: Applying options for <my personal alias>

...

debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my personal alias>private_key type 3
debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my personal alias>private_key-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>ssh_key type 0
debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>_ssh_key-cert type -1
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.0
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version babeld-7e018303
debug1: compat_banner: no match: babeld-7e018303
debug1: Authenticating to github.com:22 as 'git'
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory

...

debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>_ssh_key <RSA key> explicit agent
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my personal account>private_key <ED key> explicit

...

debug1: Offering public key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>_ssh_key <RSA key> explicit agent
debug1: Server accepts key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>_ssh_key <RSA key> explicit agent

debug1: client_input_hostkeys: searching /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts for github.com / (none)
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: searching /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2 for github.com / (none)
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: hostkeys file /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2 does not exist
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: no new or deprecated keys from server

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Sep 6, 2023

@manzaloros
I see SSH was attempted with two keys

  • K1: /Users/<me>/.ssh/<my work account>_ssh_key <RSA key>
  • K2/Users/<me>/.ssh/<my personal account>private_key <ED key>

For some reason, both K1 and K2 match with host, but K1 was given priority over K2.
I'm not sure but it could be due to the key type and algorithms.
All algorithms involved in SSH connection, including the same process, select the host key type:

  • First the server and the client exchange lists of algorithms they support
  • Then one party (in this case the client) picks the one it prefers out of commonly supported algorithms.

You should:

  • Check all ssh_config files and included files ( include ~/.ssh/config.v1.1.67 is missing file)
  • Check all ssh_know_hosts for Github host and your alias host
  • Check HostKeyAlgorithms config

My debug

$ ssh -vT <my host alias>
OpenSSH_9.0p1, LibreSSL 3.3.6
debug1: Reading configuration data /Users/<me>/.ssh/config
debug1: Reading configuration data /Users/<me>/.colima/ssh_config
debug1: /Users/<me>/.ssh/config line 167: Applying options for <my host alias>
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 21: include /etc/ssh/ssh_config.d/* matched no files
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 54: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to github.com port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/id_rsa type 0
debug1: identity file /Users/<me>/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.0
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version babeld-7e018303
debug1: compat_banner: no match: babeld-7e018303
debug1: Authenticating to github.com:22 as 'git'
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: algorithm: curve25519-sha256
debug1: kex: host key algorithm: ssh-ed25519
debug1: kex: server->client cipher: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com MAC: <implicit> compression: none
debug1: kex: client->server cipher: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com MAC: <implicit> compression: none
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY received
debug1: Server host key: ssh-ed25519 SHA256:+DiY3wvvV6TuJJhbpZisF/zLDA0zPMSvHdkr4UvCOqU
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: Host 'github.com' is known and matches the ED25519 host key.
debug1: Found key in /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts:6
debug1: rekey out after 134217728 blocks
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: rekey in after 134217728 blocks
debug1: get_agent_identities: bound agent to hostkey
debug1: get_agent_identities: agent returned 3 keys
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/id_rsa <RSA key> explicit agent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_EXT_INFO received
debug1: kex_input_ext_info: server-sig-algs=<ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-rsa-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com,ssh-ed25519,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256,ssh-rsa>
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Offering public key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/id_rsa <RSA key> explicit agent
debug1: Server accepts key: /Users/<me>/.ssh/id_rsa <RSA key> explicit agent
Authenticated to github.com ([xx.xx.xx.xx]:22) using "publickey".
debug1: channel 0: new [client-session]
debug1: Entering interactive session.
debug1: pledge: filesystem
debug1: client_input_global_request: rtype hostkeys-00@openssh.com want_reply 0
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: searching /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts for github.com / (none)
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: searching /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2 for github.com / (none)
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: hostkeys file /Users/<me>/.ssh/known_hosts2 does not exist
debug1: client_input_hostkeys: no new or deprecated keys from server
debug1: Sending environment.
debug1: channel 0: setting env LC_TERMINAL_VERSION = "3.4.20"
debug1: channel 0: setting env LC_CTYPE = "UTF-8"
debug1: channel 0: setting env LC_TERMINAL = "iTerm2"
debug1: client_input_channel_req: channel 0 rtype exit-status reply 0
Hi <me>! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
debug1: channel 0: free: client-session, nchannels 1
Transferred: sent 3532, received 3056 bytes, in 0.9 seconds
Bytes per second: sent 4068.4, received 3520.1
debug1: Exit status 1

@manzaloros
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manzaloros commented Sep 10, 2023

Thanks @oanhnn .

One note is that I didn't add an alias for my work account — just one for my personal account.

According to this discussion it looks like the search for the host is recursive and once SSH finds my hostname is github.com, it just defaults to my work settings.

Also worth noting that adding
sshCommand = ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-personal-key -F /dev/null to the repo's git config changes the error from

ERROR: Permission to <personal repo>.git denied to <my work account>.

to:

ssh: Could not resolve hostname <my personal alias>: nodename nor servname provided, or not known

@ploissken
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Finally something that works! Thank you so much!

@fons-digitect
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fons-digitect commented Sep 19, 2023

@oanhnn It is worth specifically mentioning that with step 4, the file should literally be called "config" without any extension. Otherwise testing the connection will fail, because your config file isn't recognized by ssh. Check out the green answer at: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/22589

For the rest this article helped, thanks!

@awais305
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awais305 commented Oct 21, 2023

Thanks. it's really helpful.
I have a question about the bash script. Could you please clarify where it's supposed to be added and then use it? I'm a bit confused about that part.

@oanhnn
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oanhnn commented Oct 23, 2023

@fons-digitect
The file naming is very clear.
Everyone does exactly that.

@awais305
You can save the bash script anywhere and call it by /path/to/bash-script.sh.
You should save to /usr/local/bin/git-profile (or anywhere in $PATH) for calling shorter (only git-profile)

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