ssh failure: can't ssh out as user, but root works

[Brian Fahrlander]

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Matt Price wrote:
> hi there,
> 
> having a very frustrating problem that developed all of a sudden with no
> obvious cause.  when trying to ssh out of my laptop, I find myself
> unable to do so. ssh -vv [host] produces the following (fairly lengthy
> but I suppose the relevant info is at the bottom):
> ------------------------------------
> $ ssh -vv  racesci
> OpenSSH_4.3p2 Debian-7ubuntu1, OpenSSL 0.9.8c 05 Sep 2006
> debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
> debug1: Applying options for *
> debug2: ssh_connect: needpriv 0
> debug1: Connecting to racesci [128.100.34.8] port 22.
> debug1: Connection established.
> debug1: identity file /home/matt/.ssh/identity type -1
> debug1: identity file /home/matt/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
> debug1: identity file /home/matt/.ssh/id_dsa type -1

    These three are a problem, if you're using keys- it can't find'em.

> -----------------------------------------------------
> at this point ssh hangs indefinitely.  r
> 
> The same command also hangs if I sudo -s, but if I instead try 
> su - root, all of a sudden ssh works again.  THis is very odd.  I tried
> moving my .ssh directory out of the way but had no luck.  would loveto
> hear back from someone who actually understands what's going on!  I rely
> on ssh for day-to-day work so this is very debilitating.  thanks,

    It's a good idea, if it's anywhere *near* the net, to use keys on
ssh.  There are dozens of howtos. Basically you make a key on one side,
and copy the public half into
remotesystem:/home/username/.ssh/authorized_keys.  It makes life a lot
easier and safer.  And be sure to turn off password authentication, BTW.

    It's not your answer, but it's all the help I can provide; maybe
it'll help until the real gurus get here.

    My guess is that you've gotten permissions on your user's files
over-written by root at some point, but that's just a guess.
- --
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 Brian Fahrländer                 Christian, Conservative, and Technomad
 Evansville, IN                              http://Fahrlander.net/brian
 ICQ: 5119262                         AOL/Yahoo/GoogleTalk: WheelDweller
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