Load multiple password-protected OpenSSH keys

Question

I have 2 SSH keys I need to load when starting SourceTree, which are password-protected.

Since I am on Windows and can't use Pageant (due to its lack of support to OpenSSH keys) I have to use OpenSSH, but it doesn't properly work:

* if there is just one key added into SourceTree, a command line pops up asking me for the password (and it works)
* if I add a second key through SourceTree (Tools -> Add SSH key), it asks me for the password (and it works)
* if I close SourceTree and open it up again, a command line pops up and then immediately closes itself, thus failing to load both of my SSH keys

Is there a way to solve this? The only workaround is to re-add the SSH key I need just before fetching/pushing, if I remember I previously closed SourceTree or rebooted my PC.

Seth · Answer

Do you use the private keys for something that requires the openssh format? The conversion can work both ways, so you could merely keep the ppk format for your private keys, and convert your public keys to openssh or putty's public keys as necessary. I generate all my keys with puttygen, and invariably have to convert my public keys to openssh for installation on linux servers.

FrancescoP · Answer

I really don't want to keep multiple copies of my keys, isn't there another solution?

Seth · Answer

You can use the putty key generator to convert OpenSSH private keys to the format pageant prefers. They should still work fine with the openssh public keys.