---
title: Testing your SSH connection
intro: "After you've set up your SSH key and added it to {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}, you can test your connection."
redirect_from:
  - /articles/testing-your-ssh-connection
  - /github/authenticating-to-github/testing-your-ssh-connection
  - /github/authenticating-to-github/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/testing-your-ssh-connection
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghes: '*'
  ghec: '*'
topics:
  - SSH
shortTitle: Test your SSH connection
---

Before testing your SSH connection, you should have already:
* [Checked for existing SSH keys](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys)
* [Generated a new SSH key](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent)
* [Added a new SSH key to your GitHub account](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/adding-a-new-ssh-key-to-your-github-account)

You'll need to authenticate this action using your password, which is the SSH key passphrase you created earlier. See [AUTOTITLE](/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/working-with-ssh-key-passphrases).

{% ifversion ghec %}

> [!NOTE] {% data reusables.enterprise-data-residency.access-domain %}

{% endif %}

{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %}
1. Enter the following:

   ```shell copy
   ssh -T git@{% data variables.product.product_url %}
   # Attempts to ssh to {% data variables.product.github %}
   ```

   You may see a warning like this:

   ```shell
   > The authenticity of host '{% data variables.product.product_url %} (IP ADDRESS)' can't be established.
   > ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:+DiY3wvvV6TuJJhbpZisF/zLDA0zPMSvHdkr4UvCOqU.
   > Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?
   ```

1. Verify that the fingerprint in the message you see matches {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}[{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}'s public key fingerprint](/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/githubs-ssh-key-fingerprints){% else %} your enterprise's public key fingerprint{% endif %}. If it does, then type `yes`:

   ```shell
   > Hi USERNAME! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not
   > provide shell access.
   ```

   {% linux %}

   You may see this error message:

   ```shell
   ...
   Agent admitted failure to sign using the key.
   debug1: No more authentication methods to try.
   Permission denied (publickey).
   ```

   This is a known problem with certain Linux distributions. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/authentication/troubleshooting-ssh/error-agent-admitted-failure-to-sign).

   {% endlinux %}

   > [!NOTE]
   > The remote command should exit with code 1.

1. Verify that the resulting message contains your username. If you receive a "permission denied" message, see [AUTOTITLE](/authentication/troubleshooting-ssh/error-permission-denied-publickey).