fix ssh key parsing 3

.gitlab-ci.yml

@@ -191,9 +191,10 @@ deploy_to_vps:
     - |
       key_file="$(mktemp)"
       decoded_key_file="$(mktemp)"
+      escaped_key_file="$(mktemp)"
 
       cleanup_key_files() {
-        rm -f "$key_file" "$decoded_key_file"
+        rm -f "$key_file" "$decoded_key_file" "$escaped_key_file"
       }
       trap cleanup_key_files EXIT
 
@@ -206,14 +207,19 @@ deploy_to_vps:
       chmod 600 "$key_file"
 
       if ! ssh-keygen -y -f "$key_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        if [ ! -f "${SSH_PRIVATE_KEY:-}" ] && printf '%s' "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" | tr -d '\r\n\t ' | base64 -d > "$decoded_key_file" 2>/dev/null; then
+        if [ ! -f "${SSH_PRIVATE_KEY:-}" ]; then
-          tr -d '\r' < "$decoded_key_file" > "$key_file"
+          printf '%b' "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" | tr -d '\r' > "$escaped_key_file"
+          if ssh-keygen -y -f "$escaped_key_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            cp "$escaped_key_file" "$key_file"
+          elif printf '%s' "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" | tr -d '\r\n\t ' | base64 -d > "$decoded_key_file" 2>/dev/null; then
+            tr -d '\r' < "$decoded_key_file" > "$key_file"
+          fi
           chmod 600 "$key_file"
         fi
       fi
 
       ssh-keygen -y -f "$key_file" >/dev/null 2>&1 || {
-        echo "SSH_PRIVATE_KEY must be an unencrypted OpenSSH private key. GitLab file variables, raw multiline keys, and base64-encoded keys are supported." >&2
+        echo "SSH_PRIVATE_KEY must be an unencrypted OpenSSH private key. Supported formats: GitLab file variable, raw multiline key, single-line key with literal \\n escapes, or base64-encoded key." >&2
         exit 1
       }
 

docs/DOCKER.md

@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ SSH_PRIVATE_KEY=<deployment-private-key>
 
 - GitLab `File` variable containing the private key
 - Standard multiline key pasted directly into the variable value
+- Single-line key with literal `\n` newline escapes
 - Base64-encoded private key stored as a single line
 
 If your key is passphrase-protected, generate a dedicated deploy key without a passphrase for CI instead of reusing an interactive workstation key.