How to generate ssh keys (for github)

Question

Question: How do I generate ssh private and public keys (to be used in GitHub/GitLab) using command line.

The command below generates the error

sh.exe": syntax error near unexpected token '('

I am using Windows XP.

$ ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "[email protected]"
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/c/Users/xxxx/.ssh/id_rsa):
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in /c/Users/xxxx/.ssh/id_rsa.
Your public key has been saved in /c/Users/xxxx/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
01:0f:f4:3b:ca:85:d6:17:a1:7d:f0:68:9d:f0:a2:db [email protected]

Answer 1

The command to run is only

ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "[email protected]"

All the rest beginning with line 2 of your script is the output of ssh-keygen.

And replace [email protected] with your email address.

Have a look at the manual for ssh-keygen to look for additional options. You should probably use a longer key by adding -b 4096 to the option list.

Answer 2

Here is the command

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[your github's email]"
# Creates a new ssh key
# Generating public/private rsa key pair.

This will generate a key for you. You have to copy that and insert into your Github's account (just one time).

Steps how to do It

Answer 3

Step 1: Generate Your SSH Key

$ ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

Step 2: Use the Key

$ eval $(ssh-agent -s)

Then add the key we just generated. If you selected a different path than the default, be sure to replace that path in the command.

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

Step 3: Add the SSH Key on GitHub

clip < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

if clip not found then add the next command

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

Finally Result something like on your cmd

ssh-rsa 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 [email protected]

copy from your cmd and go to your GitHub account setting find ssh and gpg keys