Cannot SSH to PowerChute Network Shutdown virtual machine.

Issue:

The user cannot SSH to the PowerChute Network Shutdown virtual machine.

Product:

PowerChute Network Shutdown 4.x, 5.x

Environment:

PowerChute Network Shutdown Linux virtual machine.

Cause:

The SSH service is set incorrectly on the Linux virtual machine.

Solution:

1- Log into the virtual machine and verify that SSH is active

Run the command systemctl status sshd

If the system reports that sshd is disabled or inactive, enter the command systemctl start sshd

2- After verifying that the service is running, when connecting, an error is posted stating access is denied or authentication failed, run the commands listed below to permit the root user SSH access.

For PowerChute VM versions 4.x, 5.0, and 5.1, run the commands:

cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_savedconfig (This command will make a copy of the original sshd_config file.)

echo "PermitRootLogin yes" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config (This command will add a new line to the sshd_config file permitting root login.)

systemctl restart sshd (This command will restart the sshd service.)

For PowerChute VM versions 5.2 and above, run the commands:

cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/00* /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/SavedConfig.txt (This command will make a copy of the original 00-complianceascode-hardening.conf file.)

sed -i 's/PermitRootLogin no/PermitRootLogin yes/g' /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/00* (This command will edit the root log in permissions to allow root to log in over SSH/SFTP.)

systemctl restart sshd (This command will restart the sshd service.)

NOTE: We recommend disabling SSH access when not required.

Released for: Schneider Electric Canada