Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Cygwin/Babun: ssh-host-config error with local ADMINSTRATORS and/or SYSTEM

Q: Best Solutions to Fix It Configuring group entries using mkgroup?

Step 1: Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and navigate to the /etc/group directory.Step 2: Run the command `mkgroup -a Administrators -e Administrator` (assuming you want to create an entry for Administrators) or `mkgroup -a SYSTEM -e System` (if you prefer to use the SYSTEM group).Step 3: I

Q: How do I fix: Configuring group entries using db search in nsswitch.conf?

Step 1: Open a text editor and navigate to the /etc/nsswitch.conf file.Step 2: Comment out the line that starts with `group: files db` (or `group: nis db` if you're using NIS) by adding a '#' symbol at the beginning of the line. This will allow the 'db' search method to be used instead.

Cygwin/Babun ssh-host-config error with local ADMINSTRATORS and/or SYSTEM

Quick Answer: Run the 'mkgroup' utility to generate entries for the local ADMINISTRATORS and/or SYSTEM sids in /etc/group.

📋 Table of Contents

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
✨ Wrapping Up

The Cygwin/Babun ssh-host-config error occurs when you attempt to configure SSH host-based authentication with local administrators and/or system users. This issue affects users who are part of the Administrators group or have System privileges on a Windows system.

This error can be frustrating, especially for administrators who need to manage access to their systems. Fortunately, there is a straightforward solution that involves creating group entries for Administrators and System users.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

The primary reason for this error is the lack of entries for local Administrators and/or System sids in /etc/group. This prevents SSH host-based authentication from working correctly.
Another possible cause is the absence of an entry for the local Administrators (group) and/or System sids, which also hinders SSH host-based authentication.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Configuring group entries using mkgroup

Step 1: Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and navigate to the /etc/group directory.
Step 2: Run the command `mkgroup -a Administrators -e Administrator` (assuming you want to create an entry for Administrators) or `mkgroup -a SYSTEM -e System` (if you prefer to use the SYSTEM group).
Step 3: If you encounter any issues, try running `mkgroup -h` for help on how to use this utility.

Configuring group entries using db search in nsswitch.conf

Step 1: Open a text editor and navigate to the /etc/nsswitch.conf file.
Step 2: Comment out the line that starts with `group: files db` (or `group: nis db` if you're using NIS) by adding a '#' symbol at the beginning of the line. This will allow the 'db' search method to be used instead.

✨ Wrapping Up

Once you've created group entries for Administrators and/or System users, restart your SSH service or run `ssh-host-config -y` again to apply the changes. After that, you should be able to configure SSH host-based authentication successfully.

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