ssh-copy-id

What it does

How to write it

ssh-copy-id [-f] [-n] [-s] [-x] [-i [IDENTITY_FILE]] [-t TARGET_PATH] [-p PORT] [-o SSH_OPTION] [USER@]HOST

Most used

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$ run as a normal user# run as root (or with sudo)

1. 1Install your key on a server

   $ssh-copy-id student@server2

   Asks for the password of student on server2. Next logins use the key.

2. 2Install one specific key

   $ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/deploy_ed25519.pub deploy@web01

   Only this key is added.

3. 3Use another port

   $ssh-copy-id -p 2222 admin@bastion.example.com

   Same -p as ssh.

4. 4See which keys would be copied

   $ssh-copy-id -n student@server2

   A dry run.

5. 5Copy a key through a jump host

   $ssh-copy-id -o ProxyJump=admin@bastion.example.com admin@10.10.0.15

   Works for servers in a private network.

6. 6Test right after copying

   $ssh-copy-id student@server2 && ssh -o BatchMode=yes student@server2 true && echo "key login works"

   BatchMode fails instead of asking for a password, so the test is honest.

7. 7Install keys for root (when root login with password is still allowed)

   $ssh-copy-id root@server2

   Then disable password login for root in sshd_config (chapter 20).

8. 8Copy the key of an automation account

   $sudo -u ansible ssh-copy-id -i /home/ansible/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub ansible@web01

   The key of the ansible user, installed for ansible on web01.

9. 9Install the key into a custom file

   $ssh-copy-id -t /home/student/.ssh/authorized_keys2 student@server2

   For servers with a special AuthorizedKeysFile setting.

10. 10Use SFTP mode on a restricted server

    $ssh-copy-id -s sftpuser@files.example.com

    When the account has no shell.

11. 11Do it by hand when ssh-copy-id is missing

    $cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub | ssh student@server2 'mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys'

    What ssh-copy-id does for you.

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