How can I change the directory that ssh-keygen outputs to?

Question

I want to run a command like:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[e-mail]"

My understanding is that ssh-keygen outputs to the home directory. I'm working on a networked computer using Git Bash (Windows, MYSS MINGW64) where the home directory is one I don't have access to. I change the home directory like so:

export HOME=C:/Users/myusername

so now when I enter:

echo $HOME

it says:

C:/Users/myusername

but when I again try to run the ssh-keygen command it runs in the directory that I don't have access to. I've looked through the profile file for some hard coded path but can't find anything. How do I change it to point to a directory that I do have access to?

Answer 1

You should be able to do this by specifying the name of the output file with the -f option, e.g.,

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[e-mail]" -f $HOME/.ssh/id_rsa

Of course, it really helps if the output directory has already been created.

For further reading:

• tutorial (already alluded to, but omitting this informat)
• manual page for ssh-keygen
• ssh-keygen -f confusion (create the directory first)
• Linux / Unix ssh-keygen: Create A Host Key File (example of -f usage)