Fetch Softworks

Cannot open SFTP connection (11 posts)

• Started 13 years ago by Glenn
• Latest reply 2 years ago from Jim Matthews

• Glenn Member

  Our company ftp site recently went to SFTP, and ever since I have been unable to connect. Our IT technicians have checked the port and pinged the server and they insist everything is ok on their end. Below is the Fetch transcript.

  etch 5.6 (5F64) Intel running on Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L30) Intel English
  StuffIt Engine 0x820, StuffIt SDK Version 10.1.1b1
  Partial serial FETCH55001-8HRA-V5NS T
  Connecting to wynnmarketing@ftp.wynnlv.com port 22 (1/18/11 9:02 AM)
  SSH2_FXP_INIT 3
  SFTP connection to “ftp.wynnlv.com” could not be opened because the connection to the SFTP server could not be established or was lost. (Try again, or contact the server administrator to verify that you have the correct hostname, username, password, and authentication method, and that the server is running.)

  Posted 13 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Glenn,

  Each SFTP server has an "SSH host key" that enables secure transfers. When you connect to an SFTP server, Mac OS X stores that server's key for future use. If the server's key changes and no longer matches the one stored on your Macintosh, this could indicate a security problem. Some programs ignore the error; Fetch instead refuses to make the connection.

  So, my guess is your server's key may have changed and that is the reason your Macintosh can't connect. I think you should try clearing your Mac's store of SSH keys, so that you can get a fresh key from the server.

  Please do the following to clear your SSH keys:

  * In Fetch, choose Fetch Help from the Help menu.
  * In the help window, search for "known hosts".
  * Double-click on the "RSA host key differs warning" help topic (it should be the one at the top of the list).
  * A help topic opens in the help window.
  * Scroll down to the "Delete the known_hosts file for me" link.
  * Click the link, and follow the instructions.

  Once that's done, try connecting to your server using SFTP again. If you're warned that "the authenticity of the host can't be established" (you may or may not be), that is normal and you should continue.

  Please let us know if this fixes the problem or not.

  Thanks,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 13 years ago #

• Glenn Member

  Thank you Scott! That did the trick.

  Glenn

  Posted 13 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Glenn,

  You're welcome, I'm glad to hear you're all set.

  Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

  Best,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 13 years ago #

• Doug Member

  I had the same problem last week, connected for years and then all of a sudden shut out. My IT guys walked through everything and couldn't find a problem, so told me to connect with FileZilla and it worked, so I was stymied. I like Fetch better, so glad I persevered and found this solution. Thanks!

  Posted 12 years ago #

• Kell Member

  Does this still apply? I'm unable to find a way to clear SSH keys in Fetch Help.

  Posted 11 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  In Fetch 5.7.2, the latest version, Fetch automatically handles this situation and asks you if you want to proceed. The help topic has been removed, because it shouldn't be necessary to clear the known_hosts file.

  Are you experiencing a problem with Fetch and SFTP?

  Thanks,

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 11 years ago #

• Kell Member

  I am, but it doesn't look the issue is with Fetch. I can't access an SFTP server on port 21 using an Airport Express as the router (I *can* connect when I plug directly into the modem). So now I'm trying to figure out how to adjust the AE port mapping... let me know if you have suggestions :) thx

  Posted 11 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  If your setup is Mac -> Airport Express -> router -> Internet -> server, you should not have to set up any port mappings in the Airport Express.

  By the way, the default port for SFTP is 22. The regular port for FTP is 21.

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 11 years ago #

• Stephen Frink Member

  We have migrated to SFTP and whole team has been on FTP with Fetch. When the sign-on window opens I'm in SFTP and port 22 but don't see a place for the key, only a password. We don't have a password. Just a key, which does work with FileZilla, but I'm hoping to keep team on Fetch. What am I doing wrong?

  Posted 2 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  Hi,

  This topic discusses using public keys for SFTP logins:

  https://fetchsoftworks.com/fetch/messageboard/sftp-with-public-key-how

  Thanks,

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 2 years ago #