How to Configure Multiple SSH Keys on macOS

If you do not have any idea to generate the ssh-key, please refer to creating-ssh-key.

Introduction

In the case I have multiple ssh-key and would like to use them for specified Git repo. In stead of backup them and manual update .ssh directory, I prefer to have an automation shell script to help with that.

Get started

Take a look at your .ssh directory.

• I will create a new directory named trungntm - which will store the ssh-key for user trungntm
• I also create a new one named developer1 - which will store the ssh-key for user developer1
• Next step, you need to manual move your id_rsa and id_rsa.pub into new folders. Note: you should check correct files before moving them to ensure right files will be used
• Okay, at this step, you've already have the enough files into your new folders. Let's open your .bash_profile and update it as below:

cd ~
vi .bash_profile

Update the shell function into your .bash_profile. Don't forget to update your user directory on your machine

function use-ssh() {
    echo "🚀 🚀 🚀 Switching to ssh profile" $1
    cp /Users/trung.nguyen/.ssh/$1/id_rsa.$1 /Users/trung.nguyen/.ssh/id_rsa
    cp /Users/trung.nguyen/.ssh/$1/id_rsa.pub.$1 /Users/trung.nguyen/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
    echo "Completed 🔥 ✅"
}

• Saving them, and open new Terminal and trying new use-ssh command:

use-ssh trungntm

The command will be called and update the id_rsa and id_rsa.pub to main files in .ssh folder will similar to this:

trung.nguyen@trungtmnguyen ~ % use-ssh trungntm
🚀 🚀 🚀 Switching to ssh profile trungntm
Completed 🔥 ✅

Let's try to switch to developer1

trung.nguyen@trungtmnguyen ~ % use-ssh developer1
🚀 🚀 🚀 Switching to ssh profile  developer1
Completed 🔥 ✅

You're done. Now, you can create a multiple profiles and switch between them easily via shell command.

Happy coding!