[git] Cloning git repo causes error - Host key verification failed. fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly

Resolved the issue... you need to add the ssh public key to your github account.

  1. Verify that the ssh keys have been setup correctly.
    1. Run ssh-keygen
    2. Enter the password (keep the default path - ~/.ssh/id_rsa)
  2. Add the public key (~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub) to github account
  3. Try git clone. It works!


Initial status (public key not added to git hub account)

foo@bn18-251:~$ rm -rf test
foo@bn18-251:~$ ls
foo@bn18-251:~$ git clone [email protected]:devendra-d-chavan/test.git
Cloning into 'test'...
Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly
foo@bn18-251:~$


Now, add the public key ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub to the github account (I used cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub)

foo@bn18-251:~$ ssh-keygen 
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa): 
Created directory '/home/foo/.ssh'.
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): 
Enter same passphrase again: 
Your identification has been saved in /home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa.
Your public key has been saved in /home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
xxxxx
The key's randomart image is:
+--[ RSA 2048]----+
xxxxx
+-----------------+
foo@bn18-251:~$ cat ./.ssh/id_rsa.pub 
xxxxx
foo@bn18-251:~$ git clone [email protected]:devendra-d-chavan/test.git
Cloning into 'test'...
The authenticity of host 'github.com (207.97.227.239)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is 16:27:ac:a5:76:28:2d:36:63:1b:56:4d:eb:df:a6:48.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added 'github.com,207.97.227.239' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.
Enter passphrase for key '/home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa': 
warning: You appear to have cloned an empty repository.
foo@bn18-251:~$ ls
test
foo@bn18-251:~/test$ git status
# On branch master
#
# Initial commit
#
nothing to commit (create/copy files and use "git add" to track)