CircleCI SSH Permission Denied

Incorrect SSH key configuration or permissions.

Understanding CircleCI

CircleCI is a powerful continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) tool that automates the software development process. It allows developers to build, test, and deploy their code efficiently. By integrating with version control systems like GitHub and Bitbucket, CircleCI helps streamline the development workflow, ensuring that code changes are automatically tested and deployed.

Identifying the SSH Permission Denied Symptom

One common issue developers encounter when using CircleCI is the 'SSH Permission Denied' error. This error typically occurs when CircleCI attempts to access a repository or server using SSH, but the connection is refused due to incorrect permissions or configuration.

What You Might See

When this issue arises, you might see an error message similar to:

Permission denied (publickey).

This indicates that the SSH key being used does not have the necessary permissions or is not correctly configured.

Exploring the Root Cause

The 'SSH Permission Denied' error is usually caused by one of the following:

  • The SSH key is not added to the CircleCI project.
  • The SSH key does not have the correct permissions.
  • The SSH key is not correctly configured in the version control system.

Incorrect SSH Key Configuration

Ensure that the SSH key is correctly configured in your version control system. For example, if you are using GitHub, the SSH key should be added to your GitHub account under SSH and GPG keys.

Steps to Resolve the SSH Permission Denied Issue

Follow these steps to resolve the 'SSH Permission Denied' error in CircleCI:

1. Add the SSH Key to CircleCI

Ensure that the correct SSH key is added to your CircleCI project:

  1. Navigate to your CircleCI project dashboard.
  2. Go to Project Settings > SSH Keys.
  3. Click on Add SSH Key.
  4. Enter the hostname and paste your private SSH key.

2. Verify SSH Key Permissions

Ensure that the SSH key has the necessary permissions to access the repository or server:

  • Check the permissions of the SSH key file using the command:

chmod 600 /path/to/your/private/key

This command ensures that the key is only readable by the owner.

3. Confirm SSH Key Configuration in Version Control

Verify that the SSH key is correctly configured in your version control system:

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'SSH Permission Denied' error in CircleCI. Proper SSH key configuration and permissions are crucial for seamless integration and deployment processes. For more detailed guidance, refer to the official CircleCI documentation.

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