When you use SSH to clone a GitHub repository on your server, you’re authenticating the server to GitHub using an SSH key.
The process involves generating an SSH key pair on your server, with the private key staying on the server and the public key copied to GitHub.
GitHub verifies the public key to authorize access, allowing cloning without entering a username/password when commands like 'git clone' are executed.
Key steps include generating an SSH key on the server, copying the public key to GitHub, testing the connection, and then cloning repositories using SSH without the need for usernames or passwords.