SSH Authentication Failed (SourceTree Windows) - Should I set SSH agent to PuTTY?

[UTAN dev]

When fetching from a remote, I'm getting the "SSH Authentication Failed" window. ("The OpenSSH agent is running but the server still rejected your connection. […]")

• I had created a new, 2048-bit key using PuttyGen and added the public key to the server.
• I can confirm that it works in the Git terminal. The following logs me in without manual intervention:

eval $(ssh-agent)

ssh-add C:\\Users\\MYUSER\\.ssh\\dell-no-passphrase-openssh-2048-bits

ssh MYUSER@MYSERVER

• SourceTree is using OpenSSH and System Git. (System Git 2.15.0/LibGit2Sharp 0.24.0 + git-lfs v2.3.4)
• I did try Tools > Launch SSH Agent.
• The SourceTree SSH Key option field contains:

C:\Users\MYUSER\.ssh\id_rsa;C:\Users\MYUSER\.ssh\dell-no-passphrase-openssh-2048-bits;D:\MYUSER\Documents\MYUSER-DELL (OpenSSH).ppk

I do see the difference in backslashes between SourceTree's setting and the terminal's add-ssh, but wouldn't one assume that SourceTree would deal with any issues when passing key filenames to its SSH agent? What's wrong here?

Or should I just tell SourceTree to use PuTTY? (I have Pageant running 24/7.) If so, why do other instructions recommend using OpenSSH instead of PuTTY?

Thanks for your help.

[Ana Retamal · Accepted solution]

Hi! Seems like there's a bug around that. There were a couple threads in Community where users proposed their solutions, you can find them at:

• https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Questions/Using-SourceTree-For-Windows-With-SSH-Keys/qaq-p/254386
• https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Bitbucket-questions/SourceTree-quot-Authentication-via-SSH-keys-failed-quot/qaq-p/38194

Let us know if that helps you! 

Best regards,

Ana

[edhubbell]

I also get this error when attempting to commit an Excel file to a repo while the file is open in Excel. It's repeatable. No clue why this is the error that comes up, but closed the workbook and the error went away.