3

I've followed the following guide to setup SSH keys on Mac OS 10.7.4.

https://help.github.com/articles/generating-ssh-keys

But for some reason it continually prompts me for my passphrase. It doesn't prompt me if I don't specify a passphrase, but that isn't desired. Is there a way to cache my passphrase so that I won't be prompted for every pull/push?

Ryan
  • 3,925
Phillip Whisenhunt
  • 133

2 Answers2

11

From this article

Storing Passphrases in the Keychain

To store the passphrase for your default key in the Keychain open a Terminal and run:

ssh-add -K

And to store the passphrase for a different key run:

ssh-add -K /path/to/private/key/file

When prompted for your passphrase enter it and that is it.

You will never need to run ssh-add nor enter your passphrase again.

Ryan
  • 3,925
1

If you create a key pair with a passphrase you have to enter that passphrase to unlock your private key. If you don't enter the correct passphrase your private key will not match the public key stored at github and the authentication cannot be performed.

If you don't want a key without a passphrase you have no way around entering the passphrase every time the key is used.

Having a key without passphrase is only a security issue if someone else gets their hands on your private key.

André Stannek
  • 423