The key format is invalid. Please check your private key.

[Andrej Kvasnica]

1. generating the key:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -o -C "git-jira-robot@machine" -f git-jira-robot
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): 
Enter same passphrase again: 
Your identification has been saved in git-jira-robot.
Your public key has been saved in git-jira-robot.pub.

2. testing the ssh to gitlab server:

ssh -i ./git-jira-robot git@git-server
PTY allocation request failed on channel 0
Welcome to GitLab, @gitjirarobot!
Connection to git-server closed.

ssh key works nice for direct ssh.

3. uploading to jira running latest Git Integration for Jira v. 3.2.7:
https://jira/secure/AddSshKey.jspa

and the message is:
The key format is invalid. Please check your private key.

[Adam Wride · Accepted solution]

Hi @Andrej Kvasnica -

I'm with BigBrassBand - the vendor supporting the Git Integration for Jira app.

The key format is invalid can represent a variety of issues. We detail some solutions here: https://bigbrassband.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/GITSERVER/pages/140574747/SSH+key+file+format+is+invalid

Please reach out to us at support@bigbrassband.com if you have further questions.

Cheers,

Adam

[Andrej Kvasnica]

this

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m pem -C "git-jira-robot@machine" -f git-jira-robot

worked nice for me. It seems that the -m pem parameter is essential.