Manage Multiple SSH keys in Windows

Configuring SSH Config File on Windows

To manage multiple SSH keys in Windows, you can create or edit the SSH config file, which is typically located at C:\Users\<your_username>\.ssh\config. This file allows you to set specific configurations for different SSH connections, including which SSH key to use for each host.

1. Open or Create the SSH Config File

Open your preferred text editor (such as Notepad, Notepad++, or VSCode) and locate the SSH config file:

• Navigate to C:\Users\<your_username>\.ssh\.
• If the config file doesn’t exist, create it.

2. Configure SSH Settings

Add or update configurations in the SSH config file to specify which SSH key to use for each host. Here’s an example configuration for two different hosts, each using a different SSH key:

Host host1
    HostName host1.example.com
    User user1
    IdentityFile C:/Users/<your_username>/.ssh/key1

Host host2
    HostName host2.example.com
    User user2
    IdentityFile C:/Users/<your_username>/.ssh/key2

• Replace <your_username> with your Windows username.
• Use forward slashes (/) for the file path, as it’s commonly used in SSH configurations.
• Modify HostName, User, and IdentityFile to match your specific SSH connections.

3. Test SSH Connections

After updating the SSH config file, test your SSH connections to ensure the correct key is used for each host:

ssh host1

ssh host2

This should connect to host1 and host2 using the specified SSH keys.

4. Secure Your SSH Keys

Ensure that your SSH keys have the correct permissions to prevent unauthorized access:

• In a command prompt or PowerShell, you can restrict permissions for the SSH keys:

  icacls C:/Users/<your_username>/.ssh/key1 /inheritance:r /grant:r <your_username>:(F)
  

• This command sets full access permissions for your user and removes inherited permissions.

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With this approach, you can effectively manage multiple SSH keys on Windows by configuring the SSH config file. It allows for customized connections and better organization when dealing with various SSH keys.