We can make logging in over SSH much easier for ourselves. Here we're going to edit a config file on our local machines.

Let's make our lives a little easier by using our local workstation's ~/.ssh/config file:

1. On Mac, tell it to use the keychain so we don't have to remember passwords (Unless used in automation, you should set long, annoying passwords on your SSH keys!)
2. Setup a hostname to use as a shortcut to log into our server

Host *
    UseKeychain yes

Host sfhstart
    HostName <server-ip-address-or-hostname-here>
    User fideloper
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_sfh_start
    IdentitiesOnly yes

Then we can simply login like this:

ssh sfhstart

Resources

• A more in-depth guide to the local SSH configuration file
• SSH Tricks, an article making heavy use of the SSH configuration file