Problems with Self-Hosted Gitea Server SSH Access

Configuring Gitea's SSH Key Authentication

Using Frontend Configuration with Bash Script

# Step 1: Generate SSH Key
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"
# Step 2: Start the ssh-agent in the background
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
# Step 3: Add your SSH key to the ssh-agent
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
# Step 4: Copy the SSH key to clipboard
pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
# If using xclip
xclip -sel clip < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

Setting Up Gitea's Nginx Reverse Proxy

Using Nginx Configuration File

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your_domain;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}
server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name your_domain;
    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/your_domain/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/your_domain/privkey.pem;
    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

Diagnosing SSH Connection Issues

Testing SSH Connectivity with a Python Script

import paramiko
def test_ssh_connection(host, port, username, key_path):
    k = paramiko.RSAKey.from_private_key_file(key_path)
    c = paramiko.SSHClient()
    c.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
    try:
        c.connect(hostname=host, port=port, username=username, pkey=k)
        print("SSH connection successful")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Failed to connect: {e}")
    finally:
        c.close()
test_ssh_connection('your_domain', 22, 'your_username', '/path/to/id_rsa')

Changing Gitea's SSH Configuration

Using SSH Configuration File

# Open SSH config file
nano ~/.ssh/config
# Add the following configuration
Host gitea_server
    HostName your_domain
    User your_username
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
# Save and exit
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config
# Test SSH connection
ssh -T gitea_server

Frequently Asked Questions and Fixes for SSH Access Problems

1. Why am I receiving an error saying "Permission denied"?
2. Make sure the public key is added to the authorized keys on your Gitea server and that your SSH keys are added to the SSH agent correctly.
3. How can I create a fresh pair of SSH keys?
4. To create a new SSH key pair, use the command ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com".
5. How can I set up the ssh-agent to use my SSH key?
6. To add your key and launch the agent, use the commands eval "$(ssh-agent -s)" and ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa.
7. In what way can I move my public key for SSH to the clipboard?
8. On Linux, use xclip -sel clip < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub; on macOS, use pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.
9. If my SSH key is hacked, what should I do?
10. Create a fresh pair of SSH keys and update the ones in your Gitea server and every other service that utilized them.
11. How can I make sure my SSH key files have the right permissions?
12. To ensure that your private key file has the correct permissions, use the command chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_rsa.
13. What's causing my SSH connection to close?
14. Verify the Gitea server is up and running, that the SSH port is open, and that your network connection is working.
15. How can I check if I can access to the server via SSH?
16. To test the connection, type ssh -T your_username@your_domain.

Steps to Ensure a Secure SSH Connection

In conclusion, meticulous SSH key configuration, Nginx proxy settings, and stringent security procedures are needed to establish a dependable SSH connection to a Gitea server. Users may guarantee a secure and functional setup by following the instructions, which include creating and managing SSH keys, setting the proper permissions, and properly configuring Nginx. Security and dependability can be further improved by routinely rotating keys and testing connections with tools like Paramiko. Resolving connection problems and preserving a secure development environment are facilitated by thoroughly addressing these components.