After lots of hunting I re-installed high sierra from scratch. Public key DID work. I slowly restored from a time machine backup until it stopped working.
The culprit was .ssh directory. I put the working .ssh dir back and copied my id’s and config to the working .ssh dir. Public key still worked. Using ls -l and ignoring ACLs the working and non working dirs and files look identical (content and permissions) This smacks of Schrödinger's cat James Lots of noise about public key login ... >> Password-less login to 10.13.6 works for me just fine, >> with the method described above (put your *.pub to the authorized_keys). >> That's the system /usr/sbin/sshd, which is OpenSSH_7.6, LibreSSL 2.6.2. >> Below is a log of such a session, from OpenBSD 6.3 to MacOS 10.13.6. >> >>> hell 40 years experience using unix and I have and do do many many >> >> I'm sure you do do. >> >>>> On 3 Sep 2018, at 8:00 pm, macports-users-requ...@lists.macports.org wrote: >>>> What port? >>> >>> actually openssh which works everywhere ( where works == password-less >>> login NB nothing to do with pass-phrase) does not work on high sierra >> >> In the current port tree, that's OpenSSH 7.6p1r5 (right?). >> Have you tried the same with the system OpenSSH? >> Have you tried with the OpenSSH port built upon the LibreSSL port, >> as opposed to the OpenSSL port? What is the difference? >> >>>>> i usually copy the public key by hand, but I also used ssh-copy-id >>>>> from 1_mac to another >>>>> from 1_mac to itself >>>>> from 1_mac to a plethora of linux machines and virtual machines >>>>> >>>>> 1_mac cannot login passwd-less to another. >>>> To another what? >>> >>> The original post made clear I called the first mac "mac-1" >>> and the second mac “another" >> >> What happens when you try a 10.13.6 server with a different client? >> >>>>> 1_mac CAN login to the linux boxes passwdless >>>>> The logs show nothing of interest >> >> Well, there must be a message about what failed with the keys, right? >> >>> Umm I’m confused. I see a password prompt not a shell prompt. I see too >>> public_key auth failed wthi error 51 before password auth gets tried >> >> So show us the full -v -v log. >> >>> I can see my suspition is not happening >>> which was blank pass phrase is not allowed. >> >> That would be a restriction of the _client_ (which I doubt), >> and the client log would surely say so. > > Thanks to every one for suggestions and help. I’ll stop abusing the list > <smile> > > I have two machines upgraded to high sierra (that did work once upon a time) > and one clean install (the machine was formatted ext4 and ran linux). None > work! > > for interest > > [haycorn] /Users/jam [263]% ls -lR .ssh > total 40 > -rw------- 1 jam staff 1014 3 Sep 19:08 authorized_keys > -rw-r--r-- 1 jam staff 130 4 Sep 2017 config > -rw------- 1 jam staff 1679 17 Feb 2018 id_rsa > -rw-r--r-- 1 jam staff 398 17 Feb 2018 id_rsa.pub > -rw-r--r-- 1 jam staff 2342 7 Oct 2016 known_hosts > > [haycorn] /Users/jam [264]% cat .ssh/authorized_keys > ssh-rsa > AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQC7Nq44JqKYYGNHMzotos6xmDkeI/2KVKIWcEz36TXqJsZxms39HuTpky5lP56gDnmXdBe8fSDi6ZJbSONZ5sMmS8XG0QqxDQufJIuoQrmgGXFhE8jcrbPAixGhX5fmBOPgFa5JgWDD9caYhpbxTfl2GoAu6Pe0u7paCaMyxD9KNAMk8oBzfkQFU3KMiK+0rB+/UI5lEyAJLCPW2WzFlF8N5iBjocvoDqx2slATfjKPx85VrdS5hVjKHcJjlpgEJ4a5+fcjlpAq/A2AKEQbzXfK1Tpb5PtyhRTIhjDufCZbgSdZlRC8fnm/iDXkwWDmkwCVYhyPAy5P4ecPpihzP6hF > jam@twill > > [haycorn] /Users/jam [265]% > > To high sierra > > [twill] /Users/jam [230]% ssh -vv haycorn.home > OpenSSH_7.6p1, LibreSSL 2.6.2 > debug1: Reading configuration data /Users/jam/.ssh/config > debug1: /Users/jam/.ssh/config line 2: Applying options for * > debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config > debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 49: Applying options for * > debug2: ssh_connect_direct: needpriv 0 > debug1: Connecting to haycorn.home port 22. > debug1: Connection established. > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa type 0 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_dsa type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ecdsa type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ecdsa-cert type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ed25519 type -1 > debug1: key_load_public: No such file or directory > debug1: identity file /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ed25519-cert type -1 > debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_7.6 > debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_7.6 > debug1: match: OpenSSH_7.6 pat OpenSSH* compat 0x04000000 > debug1: Authenticating to haycorn.home:22 as 'jam' > debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent > debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received > debug2: local client KEXINIT proposal > debug2: KEX algorithms: > curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha...@libssh.org,ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group16-sha512,diffie-hellman-group18-sha512,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha256,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1,ext-info-c > debug2: host key algorithms: > ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-...@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-...@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-...@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,ssh-ed25519-cert-...@openssh.com,ssh-rsa-cert-...@openssh.com,ssh-ed25519,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256,ssh-rsa > debug2: ciphers ctos: > chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-...@openssh.com,aes256-...@openssh.com > debug2: ciphers stoc: > chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-...@openssh.com,aes256-...@openssh.com > debug2: MACs ctos: > umac-64-...@openssh.com,umac-128-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-...@openssh.com,umac...@openssh.com,umac-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1 > debug2: MACs stoc: > umac-64-...@openssh.com,umac-128-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-...@openssh.com,umac...@openssh.com,umac-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1 > debug2: compression ctos: none,z...@openssh.com,zlib > debug2: compression stoc: none,z...@openssh.com,zlib > debug2: languages ctos: > debug2: languages stoc: > debug2: first_kex_follows 0 > debug2: reserved 0 > debug2: peer server KEXINIT proposal > debug2: KEX algorithms: > curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha...@libssh.org,ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group16-sha512,diffie-hellman-group18-sha512,diffie-hellman-group14-sha256,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1 > debug2: host key algorithms: > ssh-rsa,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ssh-ed25519 > debug2: ciphers ctos: > chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-...@openssh.com,aes256-...@openssh.com > debug2: ciphers stoc: > chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-...@openssh.com,aes256-...@openssh.com > debug2: MACs ctos: > umac-64-...@openssh.com,umac-128-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-...@openssh.com,umac...@openssh.com,umac-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1 > debug2: MACs stoc: > umac-64-...@openssh.com,umac-128-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-...@openssh.com,umac...@openssh.com,umac-...@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1 > debug2: compression ctos: none,z...@openssh.com > debug2: compression stoc: none,z...@openssh.com > debug2: languages ctos: > debug2: languages stoc: > debug2: first_kex_follows 0 > debug2: reserved 0 > debug1: kex: algorithm: curve25519-sha256 > debug1: kex: host key algorithm: ecdsa-sha2-nistp256 > debug1: kex: server->client cipher: chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com MAC: > <implicit> compression: none > debug1: kex: client->server cipher: chacha20-poly1...@openssh.com MAC: > <implicit> compression: none > debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY > debug1: Server host key: ecdsa-sha2-nistp256 > SHA256:0ZZ3WRiXJp6ucXm5k6X9Zz19kwpXLpYvYFiayZ+K0mk > debug1: Host 'haycorn.home' is known and matches the ECDSA host key. > debug1: Found key in /Users/jam/.ssh/known_hosts:9 > debug2: set_newkeys: mode 1 > debug1: rekey after 134217728 blocks > debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent > debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS > debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received > debug2: set_newkeys: mode 0 > debug1: rekey after 134217728 blocks > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa (0x7f877a700850) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_dsa (0x0) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ecdsa (0x0) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ed25519 (0x0) > debug1: SSH2_MSG_EXT_INFO received > debug1: kex_input_ext_info: > server-sig-algs=<ssh-ed25519,ssh-rsa,rsa-sha2-256,rsa-sha2-512,ssh-dss,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521> > debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth > debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received > debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password > debug1: Next authentication method: publickey > debug1: Offering public key: RSA > SHA256:/FjP5L3Grrw1P4KXIq5SsfkEy5RWhmeVehgG5+8k5rk /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa > debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply > debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password > debug1: Trying private key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_dsa > debug1: Trying private key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ecdsa > debug1: Trying private key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ed25519 > debug2: we did not send a packet, disable method > debug1: Next authentication method: password > j...@haycorn.home's password: > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The relevant part to another machine > ————————————————————————————————————— > ... > debug1: rekey after 134217728 blocks > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa (0x7fb4d5f01360) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_dsa (0x0) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ecdsa (0x0) > debug2: key: /Users/jam/.ssh/id_ed25519 (0x0) > debug1: SSH2_MSG_EXT_INFO received > debug1: kex_input_ext_info: server-sig-algs=<rsa-sha2-256,rsa-sha2-512> > debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth > debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received > debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,keyboard-interactive > debug1: Next authentication method: publickey > debug1: Offering public key: RSA > SHA256:/FjP5L3Grrw1P4KXIq5SsfkEy5RWhmeVehgG5+8k5rk /Users/jam/.ssh/id_rsa > debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply > debug1: Server accepts key: pkalg rsa-sha2-512 blen 279 > debug2: input_userauth_pk_ok: fp > SHA256:/FjP5L3Grrw1P4KXIq5SsfkEy5RWhmeVehgG5+8k5rk > debug1: Authentication succeeded (publickey). > Authenticated to sandypit.home ([192.168.5.33]:22). > debug1: channel 0: new [client-session] > debug2: channel 0: send open > debug1: Requesting no-more-sessi...@openssh.com > debug1: Entering interactive session. > debug1: pledge: exec > debug1: client_input_global_request: rtype hostkeys...@openssh.com want_reply > 0 > debug2: channel_input_open_confirmation: channel 0: callback start > debug1: No xauth program. > Warning: No xauth data; using fake authentication data for X11 forwarding. > debug1: Requesting X11 forwarding with authentication spoofing. > debug2: channel 0: request x11-req confirm 1 > debug2: fd 5 setting TCP_NODELAY > debug2: client_session2_setup: id 0 > debug2: channel 0: request pty-req confirm 1 > debug1: Sending environment. > debug1: Sending env LANG = en_AU.UTF-8 > debug2: channel 0: request env confirm 0 > debug2: channel 0: request shell confirm 1 > debug2: channel_input_open_confirmation: channel 0: callback done > debug2: channel 0: open confirm rwindow 0 rmax 32768 > debug2: channel_input_status_confirm: type 99 id 0 > debug2: X11 forwarding request accepted on channel 0 > debug2: channel_input_status_confirm: type 99 id 0 > debug2: PTY allocation request accepted on channel 0 > debug2: channel 0: rcvd adjust 2097152 > debug2: channel_input_status_confirm: type 99 id 0 > debug2: shell request accepted on channel 0 > Last login: Tue Sep 4 19:51:13 2018 from 192.168.5.61 > Have a lot of fun... > [sandypit] /home/jam [587]% > > > So I’ll carefully read all the replies > James
