Instructions for Fixing Errors /usr/bin/ssh-copy-id: Error: No Identities Found

Introduction

If you are a Linux user, you may have encountered the error message “/usr/bin/ssh-copy-id: error: no identities found” when trying to copy your SSH key to a remote server. This error occurs when the ssh-copy-id command cannot find your SSH key. In this article, we will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to fix this error.

Step 1: Check if SSH Key Exists

The first step in fixing this error is to check if your SSH key exists. To do this, open a terminal window and type the following command:

ls ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

If the command returns a file path, it means that your SSH key exists. If the command returns “No such file or directory,” it means that your SSH key does not exist.

Step 2: Generate SSH Key

If your SSH key does not exist, you need to generate a new one. To generate a new SSH key, type the following command in the terminal window:

ssh-keygen -t rsa

This command will generate a new SSH key using the RSA algorithm. You will be prompted to enter a passphrase for your SSH key. You can leave this blank if you do not want to use a passphrase.

Step 3: Add SSH Key to SSH Agent

Once you have generated your SSH key, you need to add it to the SSH agent. To do this, type the following command in the terminal window:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

This command will add your SSH key to the SSH agent. You will be prompted to enter the passphrase for your SSH key if you set one up in Step 2.

Step 4: Copy SSH Key to Remote Server

Now that your SSH key is added to the SSH agent, you can copy it to the remote server using the ssh-copy-id command. To do this, type the following command in the terminal window:

ssh-copy-id username@remote_server

Replace “username” with your username on the remote server and “remote_server” with the IP address or domain name of the remote server. You will be prompted to enter your password for the remote server.

If everything goes well, you should see a message that says “Number of key(s) added: 1.” This means that your SSH key has been successfully copied to the remote server.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided you with step-by-step instructions on how to fix the error “/usr/bin/ssh-copy-id: error: no identities found.” By following these instructions, you should be able to successfully copy your SSH key to a remote server. Remember to always keep your SSH key secure and never share it with anyone.

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