Try ssh by hand: Code: ssh root@localhost -p 2223 -v -i ~/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa
ssh root@localhost -p 2223 -v -i ~/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa
ssh root@localhost -p 2223 -v -i ~/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa OpenSSH_6.1p1, OpenSSL 1.0.1c-fips 10 May 2012 debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 50: Applying options for * debug1: Connecting to localhost [127.0.0.1] port 2223. debug1: Connection established. debug1: identity file /home/ian/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa type 1 debug1: identity file /home/ian/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa-cert type -1 debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_5.6 debug1: match: OpenSSH_5.6 pat OpenSSH_5* debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0 debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_6.1 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: Server host key: RSA 4a:96:c8:bb:75:f6:68:64:b6:0c:c1:8a:49:e5:d0:b4 debug1: checking without port identifier The authenticity of host '[localhost]:2223 ([127.0.0.1]:2223)' can't be established. RSA key fingerprint is 4a:96:c8:bb:75:f6:68:64:b6:0c:c1:8a:49:e5:d0:b4. Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes Warning: Permanently added '[localhost]:2223' (RSA) to the list of known hosts. debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received debug1: Roaming not allowed by server debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey debug1: Next authentication method: publickey debug1: Offering RSA public key: /home/ian/.ssh/mer-qt-creator-rsa debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey debug1: No more authentication methods to try. Permission denied (publickey).