For those that rely on passwordless logins via ssh, rather than generating a new SSH key for a new client machine, you can easily move SSH keys from one computer to another. This is a quick and easy solution for a temporary machine or username or for use on an auxiliary workstation. You could also use this to copy SSH keys between user accounts on the same machine.
On the other hand, if you’re already in Terminal to enable hidden files, you may as well just use the command line to move them over.
Using the terminal is faster for many of us, you’ll obviously have to be connected to the other computer through a network for this to work.
Simple enough, and will work for any version of OS X and most variations of unix or linux.
If you wanted to, you could also zip the key files and then transfer them through AirDrop, but that’s probably more work than necessary.
Because SSH keys allow for passwordless logins, you’ll want to securely delete or better yet securely format the hard drive before it goes to a new owner. This is especially true with temporary computers or loaner machines.
in a file called ~/.ssh/agent. It will be forwarded automatically and securely provided it has been loaded into the local agent with “ssh-add”. You can see what key (or keys) are currently loaded into the agent with “ssh-add -L”. This also means that there is no excuse for not having a really secure password for your private key.
Don’t use private keys without a secure, a really secure, password. It’s just too dangerous.
Can I move the /.ssh folder to my Dropbox and create a symbolic link to it? So I will never forget to backup my SSH keys when I buy a new computer for example or if something goes wrong with it???
Thank you for this article.. I’ve been looking _everywhere_ on a solution on how to copy my machines to my second mac and couldn’t find anyone it seemed who had a similar issue. That or its obvious I have barely any idea what I’m doing. Thanks again!