# SSH key usage with github

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [2 January 2021 18:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409 "2021-01-02T18:08:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [2 January 2021 18:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/1 "2021-01-02T18:08:30Z")

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I just received the security deprecation notice form github so I wanted to install my ssh keys.

In the node-red UI where I can create a new key, I would like to use an existing key.

I have already entered the public key at github. How can I enter the private key in node-red?

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [2 January 2021 20:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/2 "2021-01-02T20:56:43Z")

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> [@jmorris644](#):
>
> In the node-red UI where I can create a new key

I do not believe you can. You need command line access to git on the node-red server. AFAIK, Node-RED simply uses git under the surface.

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 17:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/3 "2021-01-03T17:10:38Z")

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Ok, I will create another pair just for node-red.

Do you know that if I use the same passphrase to generate the key on multiple node-red instances, will it generate the same key?

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 17:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/4 "2021-01-03T17:28:01Z")

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I don't believe so, no. The key's are always cryptographically unique since that is their purpose.

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 17:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/5 "2021-01-03T17:49:32Z")

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Hmmm, that makes managing project's security a little more interesting. If I understand correctly, I will be creating unique key pairs for every instance of node-red and github combo. Correct?

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 18:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/6 "2021-01-03T18:03:21Z")

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Well you don't have to. The point about a key pair is that they work from anywhere. So you _can_ distribute them as you like.

However, if the key is compromised in one place, you have to know to change them all.

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 18:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/7 "2021-01-03T18:46:23Z")

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Thanks, but when I create the key in node-red all I get to see if the public key. It doesn't look like I have any control over the private key.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [3 January 2021 20:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/8 "2021-01-03T20:36:47Z")

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Apologies, I admit to not giving this thread full attention. I assume you are using the Node-RED projects feature?

If so, I don't use that and all my git usage is from the command line or VScode. I guess you would need to search for the private key. I imagine that it will be inside your projects folder somewhere.

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 15:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/9 "2021-01-04T15:47:28Z")

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Thanks for your help. I looked but could not find it.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 16:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/10 "2021-01-04T16:44:09Z")

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Does this help: [Node-red project and github - General - Node-RED Forum](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-project-and-github/1344/4)

Also: [Projects : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/projects/)

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**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 17:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/11 "2021-01-04T17:34:02Z")

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Those are the two threads that I used to initially set the project up with github.

But they do not address the future change with github eliminating password authentication.

The SSH key generation is actually not in the project menu. It is in hamburger menu\>settings\>git config

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 17:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/12 "2021-01-04T17:36:45Z")

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OK, well as I don't use projects, I've already over-reached my knowledge. If the documentation is lacking or incorrect, I'd suggest nipping onto the Node-RED Slack. There is a #docs channel there and you can chat with Nick or Dave about documentation updates.

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 18:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/13 "2021-01-04T18:09:35Z")

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Am still largely in vacation mode for another couple days, but will reply properly later tonight.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jmorris644](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jmorris644/32/31964_2.png) [@jmorris644](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jmorris644)\
**Post date:** [4 January 2021 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/14 "2021-01-04T20:02:12Z")

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Stay on vacation. This isn't needed until August!! 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [5 March 2021 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ssh-key-usage-with-github/38409/15 "2021-03-05T20:02:19Z")

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