SSH Config Generator | Simple Tools

Build OpenSSH client config templates locally, with paths, commands, and file references.

All values stay in this page and are cleared on reload. Enter a key path, never the private key contents.

Hosts

Load example (replaces current hosts)

Host alias 1

Host aliasHost name / IPUserPortPrivate key path (optional)Jump host (optional)Keepalive interval (seconds)

Use configured identities only (IdentitiesOnly)

Config preview

Host my-server
    HostName 203.0.113.10
    User ubuntu
    Port 22
    IdentityFile "~/.ssh/id_ed25519"
    IdentitiesOnly yes
    ServerAliveInterval 60
    ServerAliveCountMax 3

Append these Host blocks to ~/.ssh/config, or merge them with existing entries. More specific entries should come before Host * defaults because the first obtained value usually wins. Downloading does not modify your SSH files.

Common paths & files

Paths below use macOS / Linux conventions. On Windows OpenSSH, user files are usually in %USERPROFILE%\.ssh; system files are usually in %ProgramData%\ssh. chmod commands apply to Unix-like systems.

~/.ssh/config: Per-user client options, grouped by Host alias. Use ssh my-server to select an entry.
~/.ssh/id_ed25519: Private key on the client. Keep it secret; never copy it to a server or share it.
~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub: Public key. Add it to the remote user’s authorized_keys to enable key login.
~/.ssh/authorized_keys: On the server: public keys allowed to log in as this user. One key per line.
~/.ssh/known_hosts: On the client: remembered server host keys. Verify fingerprints through a trusted channel before accepting a new or changed key.
/etc/ssh/ssh_config: System-wide client defaults; different from the server daemon configuration.
/etc/ssh/sshd_config: Server daemon options (such as login policy). Editing this file affects the server, not your local connection aliases.

Common commands

ssh my-server

Connect using a configured alias. Replace my-server in the examples with your alias.

ssh -G my-server

Print the effective client configuration without opening an SSH connection.

ssh -vvv my-server

Connect with verbose logs to diagnose authentication and connection issues.

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]" -f ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Generate an Ed25519 key pair; choose a passphrase. Use a different output path if this key already exists.

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
ssh-add -l

Add a private key to an already running SSH agent; ssh-add -l lists loaded fingerprints.

chmod 700 ~/.ssh
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Restrict directory, config, and private-key permissions. Run file commands only for files that exist.

ssh-keygen -lf ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Show the fingerprint of a public key for verification.

scp ./file.txt my-server:~/

Copy a local file to the remote home directory using the alias.

OpenSSH reference: ssh_config(5) · ssh(1)

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