. I have previously responded to each previous suggestion and request for info to try to find a solution to the subject problem, and I will continue to do so. There have been three subsequent replies to this issue and I will now reply to each one separately, in order. First, kitepilot last suggested the following, with replies below: > (1) grep joe /etc/passwd -- and post the line > (2) find /var/log -type f -exec grep -H joe "{}" \; -- and post the output > (3) Look at line: > Feb 10 18:18:16 localhost su: pam_unix(su:auth): authentication failure; > logname= uid=500 euid=0 tty=pts/1 ruser=joe rhost= user=root > (4) From console in 73 > ssh -v localhost (on 73) -- and post the reply > (5) Then from the other machine do: > ssh -v <73> (on 73) -- and post that too (1) $ fgrep joe passwd -- result: joe:x:500:500:Joe:/home/joe:/bin/bash (2) $ find /var/log -type f -exec grep -H joe "{}" \; Due to the length of the result of this command, I have uploaded that result at the following link: http://www.upquick.com/linux/temp/var.log.joe (3) Look at line: > Feb 10 18:18:16 localhost su: pam_unix(su:auth): authentication failure; > logname= uid=500 euid=0 tty=pts/1 ruser=joe rhost= user=root I have looked at that line, but I don't know what to do about it. (4) From console in 73 ssh -v localhost (on 73) -- and post the reply -- the result is below: OpenSSH_5.3p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8l 5 Nov 2009 debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config debug1: Applying options for * debug1: Connecting to localhost [127.0.0.1] port 22. debug1: Connection established. debug1: identity file /home/joe/.ssh/identity type -1 debug1: identity file /home/joe/.ssh/id_rsa type -1 debug1: identity file /home/joe/.ssh/id_dsa type -1 debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_5.3 debug1: match: OpenSSH_5.3 pat OpenSSH* debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0 debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.3 debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY debug1: Host 'localhost' is known and matches the RSA host key. debug1: Found key in /home/joe/.ssh/known_hosts:4 debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password,keyboard-interactive debug1: Next authentication method: publickey debug1: Trying private key: /home/joe/.ssh/identity debug1: Trying private key: /home/joe/.ssh/id_rsa debug1: Trying private key: /home/joe/.ssh/id_dsa debug1: Next authentication method: keyboard-interactive debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password,keyboard-interactive debug1: Next authentication method: password joe@localhost's password: > (5) Then from the other machine do: > ssh -v <73> -- and post that too Since I did the first 'ssh -v' on computer #73, by "the other machine" I assumed you meant to do the suggested command on machine #68. Here was the result: $ ssh -v <73> bash: syntax error near unexpected token `73' Sorry if I did not follow your last instruction correctly, kitepilot. Responses to the other two suggestions/requests will follow shortly. --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss