# How to ssh to a remote server without typing your password

Save yourself a few keystrokes. Follow the steps below:

1. Run this Bash script on your laptop:

    ```bash
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    
    # The hostname of your remote server.
    host=myserver.com
    
    # Create this folder if it does not exist: ~/.ssh
    mkdir ~/.ssh
    
    # Set the correct permissions (required)
    chmod 700 ~/.ssh
    
    # Generate an RSA key pair for identification with the remote server
    ssh-keygen -t rsa
    
    # Copy your public key to the remote server
    cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub | ssh $host 'cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys'
    
    # ssh is very strict about correct permissions
    ssh $host 'chmod g-w,o-w ~; chmod 700 ~/.ssh; chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys'
    ```
    
    At this point, you can connect to your server without typing a password: 

    ```bash
    ssh username@myserver.com
    ```

2. If you would prefer to type `jupiter` (7 characters) rather than
   `username@myserver.com` (21 characters), create a config file
   `~/.ssh/config` as shown below. You'll be able to use this alias
   with: `rsync`, `scp`, and `ssh`.

    ```
    # ~/.ssh/config
    Host jupiter
        User carl
        HostName myserver.com
    ```

    At this point, you can connect to your server like this: 

    ```bash
    ssh jupiter
    ```

3. If you want a single command to do two steps:

    1. First, connect to a login server `jupiter`
    2. Next, connect to a work server `saturn`

   Then configure your `~/.ssh/config` file as follows:

    ```
    # ~/.ssh/config
    
    Host jupiter
        User carl
        Hostname myserver.com
    
    Host saturn
        User carl
        ProxyCommand ssh -qX jupiter nc %h %p
    ```
    
    At this point, you can connect to `saturn` via `jupiter` like this:
    
    ```bash
    ssh saturn
    ```

# Further reading

How to write your own config file:

- http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/create-ssh-config-file-on-linux-unix/

All available configuration options:

- http://linux.die.net/man/5/ssh_config