MI Gitlab access by SSH

Technical Background

When working with Git repositories, HTTPS access often requires re-entering a username and password or personal access token for every push and pull operation. Using SSH keys eliminates this repetitive authentication by providing a secure, passwordless connection. Once a public key is registered in the GitLab profile, it enables encrypted communication and seamless Git operations without manually typing credentials.

SSH

Use SSH keys to communicate with GitLab

MI GitLab

Solution

Adding Public SSH Key to GitLab

  1. Output the content from your public key file with the command:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

  1. Copy the content
  2. Login to your GitLab account and navigate over the GUI to:

Profile → SSH Keys

  1. Paste the public key into the field and assign a descriptive title
  2. Click Add Key

Warning

Forgetting to add the key in GitLab results in Permission denied (publickey) errors.

Testing SSH Access

  1. Try to clone a repository with the SSH URL:

git clone git@gitlab.mi.hdm-stuttgart.de:<username>/<repository>.git

Info

On the first connection, confirm the host fingerprint. If your SSH key has a passphrase, you’ll be prompted to enter it once.

Warning

If using passphrase-protected keys, ensure an SSH agent is running to avoid repeated prompts.

  1. Push changes to the remote repository:

Make a change, commit and push it:

git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit via SSH"
git push origin main

Info

The push completes without requiring a username or password because the SSH key handles authentication.

  1. Pull a Change

Make a remote change and pull to your local git:

git pull

Info

Git synchronizes using the same SSH-secured connection.

Info

Check your SSH connection directly with ssh -T git@gitlab.mi.hdm-stuttgart.de