Ubuntu / Debian Linux Server Install Keychain SSH Key Manager For OpenSSH

I do not want to start ssh-agent and ssh-add as described here to manage my ssh keys for password less login. How do I install keychain software to manage my keys running on Debian or Ubuntu based cloud server?

OpenSSH offers RSA and DSA authentication to remote systems without supplying a password. keychain is a manager for ssh-agent.

Tutorial details
Difficulty	Easy (rss)
Root privileges	Yes
Requirements	Debian / Ubuntu

The ssh-agent started by keychain is long-running and will continue to run, even after you have logged out from the system. However, you can control this behavior.

Installing keychain for Debian and friends

You can install keychain the key manager for OpenSSH using the apt-get from the command line over an ssh session for cloud based instance or any other regular vps or dedicated server. Type the following command as root user:
$ sudo apt-get install keychain
OR
# apt-get install keychain
Sample outputs:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
  grub-pc-bin
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
Suggested packages:
  gnupg-agent ssh-askpass
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  keychain
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 2 not upgraded.
Need to get 32.3 kB of archives.
After this operation, 118 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://mirrors.service.networklayer.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe keychain all 2.7.1-1 [32.3 kB]
Fetched 32.3 kB in 0s (1,633 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package keychain.
(Reading database ... 47427 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking keychain (from .../keychain_2.7.1-1_all.deb) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up keychain (2.7.1-1) ...

Configure keychain

You need to edit a file called $HOME/.bashrc, run:
$ vi $HOME/.bashrc
Add the following lines:

 
#####################################################################################
### The --clear option make sure Intruder cannot use your existing SSH-Agents keys 
### i.e. Only allow cron jobs to use password less login 
#####################################################################################
/usr/bin/keychain --clear $HOME/.ssh/id_rsa
source $HOME/.keychain/$HOSTNAME-sh

 
###########################################################################
# allow $USER to use keys. Only enter once and it will remain enabled till
# you delete it or reboot the server 
###########################################################################
/usr/bin/keychain $HOME/.ssh/id_rsa
source $HOME/.keychain/$HOSTNAME-sh

When you login, you will see the keychain mangeras as follows so that your shells and cron jobs can share a single ssh-agent process: