SSH Key Agents

• An ssh-agent process stores keys in memory, and clients use it to sign authenticators

  • $ ssh-agent $SHELL # invoke a subshell -- shell dies if agent dies
  • $ eval 'ssh-agent' # process sets env and detaches, doesn't die on logout
  • X:
    • $ ssh-agent startx
    • .xsession: exec ssh-agent ./.xsession-stuff
  • $ ssh-add # loads identity files, connect at will!

Notes: