I've worked pretty extensively with ssh-agent and X-Windows, and have found tha
t #2 is fraught with peril. One often leaves ssh-agent processes lying around,
since cleanup scripts don't get run if a shell dies abnormally or is killed.
#1 is a much better way.
I don't run ssh-agent for command line logins, but I do run it under X, and sim
ply alias 'startx' to 'ssh-agent startx'. If you then use ssh to login everywh
ere, the agent will automatically propagate. This is the most reliable method
I have found so far.
- Mike