ssh connection refused - SSH connection refused by remote host

root@linuxfix:~/ssh_connection_refused$

ssh connection refused

SSH connection refused by remote host

Solutions

Prerequisites: Start by updating your system to resolve common issues and ensure the solutions provided below are compatible with your current environment.

check_latest_version && sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Check SSH service

Verify SSH is running:

sudo systemctl status ssh

sudo systemctl start ssh

sudo systemctl enable ssh

Test connectivity

Check network and port:

telnet hostname 22

nmap -p 22 hostname

ssh -v user@hostname

Check firewall

Allow SSH through firewall:

sudo ufw allow ssh

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT

What is ssh connection refused?

SSH daemon is not running, firewall blocking, or wrong port/credentials.

Common scenarios: Service not running, firewall rules, wrong port, authentication failures.

Common Causes

SSH service stopped
Firewall blocking port 22
Wrong SSH port
Authentication failure
Too many login attempts

Debugging Tips

ss -tlnp | grep :22

journalctl -u ssh

cat /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Prevention

Monitor SSH service
Configure fail2ban
Use key authentication
Change default port

Additional Resources

OpenSSH Manual

SSH configuration guide

ssh remote connection security