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Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

Fix common SSH connection problems between Server Compass and your VPS.

Intermediate5 min readUpdated 2024-02-01

Connection refused

Cause: SSH service not running or wrong port

Solutions:

  1. Verify SSH is running: systemctl status sshd
  2. Check you're using the correct port
  3. Verify firewall allows SSH: ufw status
  4. Check server is online with ping

Authentication failed

Cause: Wrong credentials

Solutions:

  1. Double-check username and password
  2. For SSH keys, verify the key is authorized on server
  3. Check ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on server
  4. Try connecting with password to verify account

Connection timeout

Cause: Network issues or firewall blocking

Solutions:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Verify server is reachable (ping)
  3. Check if port 22 is blocked by your network
  4. Verify server firewall allows your IP

Host key verification failed

Cause: Server's SSH key changed

Solutions:

  1. If server was reinstalled, this is expected
  2. In Server Compass, click "Accept New Key"
  3. Or remove old key from ~/.ssh/known_hosts

Screenshots

Troubleshooting Connection Issues - Screenshot 1

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