[maximilian]

So, the private key is encrypted on the client side, which requires that the user type their key-password in, so that the client can send the private key in order to authenticate?

I generally use ssh keys so that I dont have to type my password in 50 times a day. Can this be done with a key-password, or does this defeat the entire purpose of having a key-password?

[wiredfool]

You can add it to ssh-agent, and it will be kept open for new connections to use.( and, even allow you to extend the keyed login to the next hop) Some desktops will do this automatically, Some are setup to ask for the password each time.

[jiggy2011]

Something I've considered doing is creating a truecrypt volume and somehow sticking all of my pre-shared keys and stored credentials in there, for SSH keys , wifi keys , lastpass & dropbox credentials etc.

So I can mount the volume and be logged automatically into everything then dismount when I'm done.

It's just the pain of rounding all of the various files up.