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$ ssh-add
Could not open a connection to your authentication agent.

This is worked around on window-by-window or tab-by-tab basis by doing
the following:

$ ssh-agent bash 

followed by 

$ ssh-add

and then things revert back to the previous behaviour (only for that
tab/window, however). This is quite irritating.

I have tried this with a fully updated F16 as well as a shiny new F17.
Same problem. The problem however does not show up with the rusty old
F16 (the one that came "in the box", or rather the usb/cd so to speak). 

I am using the LXDE spin.

Any ideas as to what is causing this behaviour? How to fix it
permanently? Does it call for a bugzilla report? Under what component? 

Many thanks and best wishes,
Ranjan