Issue SSH wont start, error on starting

[Gene Steinberg]

I have a VPS with the latest Plesk and AlmaLinux 9.3.

All of a sudden SSH doesn't work. It restarts with an error and a telnet to the server shows it can't reach port 22 (even though it's activated).

I used the host's console to login and ran a few things (see screen shot).

I assume removing and reinstalling SSH can help, but I am not finding clear instructions on doing that.

Can someone help?

 

[Kaspar]

Did you follow the advice mentioned in the error and ran systemctl status sshd.service and journalctl -xeu sshd.service to get more details on the error?

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Here:

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Not all of it, but the console doesn't let me scroll.

Peace,
Gene

 

[Kaspar]

In the screenshot you posted the cause for the error is stated. Did you spot it?

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Above my pay grade.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

What I would like to have is step-by-step on what I need to fix it.

 

[Peter Debik]

--> I conclude that you have an error in line 137 in the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I fond directions for removing Open SSH in AlmaLinux and did that, reinstalled. and was able to restart OpenSSH.

But Plesk opens with a 502 Gateway error. Sites work, but not SSH for logins. I can connect via host's remote console, though. A restart requires restarting MariaDB, but sites work.

So any directions to get past this are welcome.

 

[Peter Debik]

Removing OpenSSH is not such a good idea. It would have been better to simply edit the faulty configuration file. Removing a service might result in other services that depend on it to no longer work.

Could you please explain what you mean by the 502 Gateway error? Do you mean that opening the graphical user interface shows that error so that you cannot see the login page, but see a 502 immediately? In that case you can try to toggle the psa service service psa stop && service psa start or you can try to toggle service sw-cp-server restart && service sw-engine restart. If this does not work, please try advice from this thread: Issue - sw-engine won't start