Cloning with a different SSH key

git-cloning-with-a-different-ssh-key.md

Use-case

You need to use an SSH key to authenticate against a service which isn't your default SSH key, and/or your default key may be used on another (different) accout for the service.

Solution

1. Clone the repo

   GIT_SSH_COMMAND='ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-private-key-filename -o IdentitiesOnly=yes' git clone git@....
   

2. Edit the .git/config file within the newly cloned repo. Under core add the git SSH command used above as sshCommand:

   e.g.

   [core]
           repositoryformatversion = 0
           filemode = true
           bare = false
           logallrefupdates = true
           ...
           sshCommand = ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-private-key-filename -o IdentitiesOnly=yes
   ...