gnome-ssh-askpass

gnome-ssh-askpass

gnome-ssh-askpass is a GNOME-based passphrase dialog for use with OpenSSH. It is intended to be called by the ssh-add(1) program and not invoked directly. It allows ssh-add(1) to obtain a passphrase from a user, even if not connected to a terminal (assuming that an X display is available). This happens automatically in the case where ssh-add is invoked from one’s ~/.xsession or as one of the GNOME startup programs, for example.

In order to be called automatically by ssh-add, gnome-ssh-askpass should be installed as /usr/bin/ssh-askpass.

The following environment variables are recognized:
GNOME_SSH_ASKPASS_GRAB_SERVER

Causes gnome-ssh-askpass to grab the X server before asking for a passphrase.

GNOME_SSH_ASKPASS_GRAB_POINTER

Causes gnome-ssh-askpass to grab the mouse pointer using gdk_pointer_grab() before asking for a passphrase.

Regardless of whether either of these environment variables is set, gnome-ssh-askpass will grab the keyboard using gdk_keyboard_grab().

This manual page was written by Colin Watson <cjwatson@debian.org> for the Debian system (but may be used by others). It was based on that for x11-ssh-askpass by Philip Hands.