# Mac/Linux

## Start the SSH-Agent

First, start your `ssh-agent` with the command below.

```bash
$ eval $(ssh-agent)
```

You should see an output similar to this:

```console
Agent pid 48792
```

## Add Key(s)

Next, add your ssh private keys to the running agent (using the `ssh-add` command on line 1). This step may be repeated for every key pair you use to connect to different git servers. For most, this file is called `id_rsa` and will live in `~/.ssh/id_rsa`. If you set a password for your ssh keys, the agent will prompt you to enter them.

```console
$ ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
Enter passphrase for ~/.ssh/id_rsa:
Identity added: ~/.ssh/id_rsa
```

Confirm the ssh keys have been loaded into the agent with `ssh-add -L`:

```console
$ ssh-add -L
ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1y...CQ0jPj2VG3Mjx2NR user@computer
```

## Connect to Oscar

Now ssh into Oscar with the `-A` option as shown on the first line below (replace `username` with your Oscar username). `-A` will forward your ssh-agent to Oscar, enabling you to use the ssh keys on your laptop while logged into Oscar.

```bash
$ ssh -A username@ssh.ccv.brown.edu
```

If you have ssh keys setup on your local computer to connect to GitHub, you can confirm your ssh-agent was properly forwarded by checking GitHub . If the ssh command fails, your agent has not been properly forwarded.

```bash
$ ssh git@github.com

Hi JaneDoe! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.
Connection to github.com closed.
```

## Always connecting with Agent Forwarding

To make these changes permanent, you can add the `ForwardAgent yes` option to your ssh configuration file. To learn more about configuring your ssh connections, visit

{% content-ref url="/pages/VmjXBOYyaxwutmnpPwRv" %}
[SSH Configuration File](/oscar/connecting-to-oscar/ssh/ssh-configuration-file.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ccv.brown.edu/oscar/connecting-to-oscar/ssh/ssh-agent-forwarding/mac-linux.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.