Set up SSH Keys#

Let’s assume your two Github accounts are named githubPersonal and githubWork, respectively. Create two SSH keys, saving each to a separate file:

$ cd ~/.ssh
$ ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "your_email@associated_with_githubPersonal.com"
# save it as id_rsa_personal when prompted
$ ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "your_email@associated_with_githubWork.com"
# save it as id_rsa_work when prompted

The above commands setup the following files:

• id_rsa_personal
• id_rsa_personal.pub
• id_rsa_work
• id_rsa_work.pub

Add the keys to your Github accounts:#

Copy the key to your clipboard:

$ pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_rsa_personal.pub

Add the key to your account:

• Go to your Account Settings
• Click “SSH Keys” then “Add SSH key”
• Paste your key into the “Key” field and add a relevant title
• Click “Add key” then enter your Github password to confirm

Repeat the process for your githubWork account.

Create a configuration file to manage the separate keys#

Create a config file in ~/.ssh/

$ touch config

Edit the file using the text editor of your choice. I used vim - $ vim config:

# githubPersonal
Host personal
   HostName github.com
   User git
   IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa_personal

# githubWork
Host work
   HostName github.com
   User git
   IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa_work

Update stored identities#

Clear currently stored identities:

$ ssh-add -D

Add new keys:

$ ssh-add id_rsa_personal
$ ssh-add id_rsa_work

Test to make sure new keys are stored:

$ ssh-add -l

Test to make sure Github recognizes the keys:

$ ssh -T personal
Hi githubPersonal! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
$ ssh -T work
Hi githubWork! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

Test PUSH#

On Github, create a new repo in your personal account, githubPersonal, called test-personal.

Back on your local machine, create a test directory:

$ cd ~/documents
$ mkdir test-personal
$ cd test-personal

Add a blank “readme.md” file and PUSH to Github:

$ touch readme.md
$ git init
$ git add .
$ git commit -am "first commit"
$ git remote add origin git@personal:githubPersonal/test-personal.git
$ git push origin master

note: Notice how we’re using the custom account, git@personal, instead of git@github.com.

Repeat the process for your githubWork account.

Test PULL#

Add some text to the readme.md file in your personal account on Github. Now PULL and merge the changes by running the following command within the test-personal directory:

$ git pull origin master

Again, repeat this for your githubWork account.

Source: https://mherman.org/