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Asked: 2024-09-23T19:40:22+05:30 In: ,

Why am I encountering a “connection refused” error when trying to access port 22 on my server?

So, I’m dealing with this frustrating issue with my server, and I’m hoping someone out there has experienced the same thing and can help me out. I’m trying to SSH into my server using port 22, but I keep getting a “connection refused” error. It’s driving me a little nuts because I’ve checked a few things, and I’m at a bit of a loss.

Let me give you a bit of background: I’m running a Linux server on Ubuntu, and I’ve been using it for a couple of months without any hiccups. The last time I was SSH’ed into it was just a few days ago, and everything was fine. But now, for some weird reason, I can’t get in. I keep getting this “connection refused” message, and it feels like the universe is conspiring against me.

I’ve double-checked that I’m using the right IP address. I even tried accessing the server from a different machine, thinking it might be a local issue, but nope—same message. I also looked at the firewall settings, which I thought might be blocking my access. The thing is, I remember explicitly allowing port 22 in the UFW settings, but maybe I missed something? I ran `sudo ufw status`, and it shows that port 22 is indeed allowed. So, what gives?

Another thing I wondered about is the SSH service itself. I know sometimes services can crash or fail to start properly. So, I tried to connect directly to the server console to see if the SSH service was running. When I checked with `systemctl status ssh`, it said it was active and running. But, I mean, could it still be misconfigured somehow?

Lastly, I know there could be network issues at play here too, maybe with my ISP or something funky going on with the router. But everything else seems to be working fine—I can browse the web and all that jazz.

I’m just stuck. Does anyone have any ideas? Has this happened to you before? What other things can I look into to figure this out? Any troubleshooting tips would be greatly appreciated!

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    2 Answers



    1. SSH Connection Refused Issue

      SSH Connection Refused Problem

      Sounds super frustrating! Here are a few things you might wanna check out:

      1. SSH Service

      Even if systemctl status ssh says it’s “active,” try restarting it. Sometimes a simple reboot can fix things:
      sudo systemctl restart ssh

      2. Firewall Settings

      It’s great that you checked UFW, but just to be sure, you can run these commands:
      sudo ufw allow 22 to explicitly allow port 22 again, and then check with sudo ufw status to confirm.

      3. Server Listening on Port 22

      Make sure the server is actually listening on port 22! You can check this with:
      sudo netstat -tuln | grep :22
      If you don’t see any output, it might not be set up correctly.

      4. SSH Config File

      Check your SSH configuration file at /etc/ssh/sshd_config. Look for lines that say:
      Port 22 and PermitRootLogin yes (if you’re trying to log in as root). Make sure they are set correctly.

      5. IPTables

      If UFW looks good, but you still can’t connect, check if there are any rules in IPTables that might be blocking the connection:
      sudo iptables -L

      6. Network Issues

      Even if your internet is working, there might be issues with the network or ISP. Try connecting to a different network (like your mobile hotspot) to rule this out.

      7. Reboot the Server

      If all else fails, and you have access to the console, just rebooting the server can sometimes fix mysterious issues.

      Hope this helps! Don’t stress too much; these things happen. Good luck!



    2. It sounds like you’re facing a classic issue that can stem from several causes. Since you’ve already confirmed that port 22 is allowed in your UFW firewall settings, it’s advisable to check if the SSH daemon is listening on that port. You can do this by executing `sudo netstat -tuln | grep :22` or `ss -tuln | grep :22` in the terminal. This will show if the SSH service is indeed bound to port 22 and accepting connections. Additionally, ensure that your SSH configuration file (`/etc/ssh/sshd_config`) hasn’t unintentionally blocked connections. Look for options like `ListenAddress` which could restrict the interface on which SSH listens. If everything checks out, restarting the SSH service can sometimes resolve transient issues due to configuration changes with the command `sudo systemctl restart ssh`.

      If after verifying these settings you still face the “connection refused” error, consider investigating potential network issues. A good step is to try pinging the server’s IP address from your client machine to check connectivity. If the ping is successful, but SSH is still not working, this might hint at potential routing or ISP level issues. Also, check your router settings to ensure that it’s not blocking the connection. In some cases, a change in the server’s external IP address can also result in a connection refusal if your DNS entries are out of date. Lastly, if your server has been under heavy load recently, reviewing system logs (available in `/var/log/auth.log`) could shed light on unauthorized attempts or other anomalies affecting SSH access. Documenting each step you take will help in pinpointing the issue more effectively.


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