Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: SSH using IPV6 getting error "No Route to Host" in Mac OS X 10.10.1

SSH IPv6 error No Route to Host in Mac OS X 10.10.1

Quick Answer: Check network settings and enable IPv6 on your router and Mac OS X.

The 'No Route to Host' error when attempting to SSH using IPv6 in Mac OS X 10.10.1 (Yosemite) is frustrating for users who can successfully use IPv4. This issue occurs due to a misconfiguration of the system's routing table, which prevents the system from resolving the IPv6 address of the remote host.

Enabling IPv6 on a Mac with this version of OS X can be challenging, but the solution involves updating the system's routing configuration and ensuring that IPv6 is properly configured on the network interface.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary cause of the 'No Route to Host' error in this scenario is a misconfigured default route. When IPv6 is enabled, the system uses the IPv6 address of the default gateway instead of the IPv4 address. This can be resolved by updating the system's routing configuration to prioritize IPv4 over IPv6.
  • An alternative cause could be a lack of IPv6 configuration on the network interface, which prevents the system from resolving the remote host's IPv6 address.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Enabling IPv6 on the System and Updating Routing Configuration

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Enable IPv6 on the System
  2. Step 2: Open the Network preferences pane in System Preferences. Select the network interface that you want to enable IPv6 for, then click the 'Advanced' button. In the Advanced tab, select the 'TCP/IP' option and check the box next to 'Use IPv6'. Click 'OK' to save the changes.
  3. Step 3: Step 2: Update the Default Route
  4. Step 4: Open the Terminal application and type the command `sudo route add default -interface en0` (replace 'en0' with the name of your network interface). This will update the system's routing configuration to prioritize IPv4 over IPv6. Note that you may need to use a different command depending on your specific network setup.
  5. Step 5: Step 3: Verify the Changes
  6. Step 6: Open the Terminal application and type the command `ip route show default` to verify that the routing configuration has been updated correctly.

Configuring IPv6 on the Network Interface

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check the Current IPv6 Configuration
  2. Step 2: Open the Terminal application and type the command `ip addr show` to verify that the network interface has an IPv6 address. If it does not, proceed with the next step.
  3. Step 3: Step 2: Configure IPv6 on the Network Interface
  4. Step 4: Open the Network preferences pane in System Preferences. Select the network interface that you want to configure for IPv6, then click the 'Advanced' button. In the Advanced tab, select the 'TCP/IP' option and check the box next to 'Use IPv6'. Click 'OK' to save the changes.
  5. Step 5: Step 3: Verify the Changes
  6. Step 6: Open the Terminal application and type the command `ip addr show` to verify that the network interface now has an IPv6 address.

✨ Wrapping Up

Enabling SSH using IPv6 in Mac OS X 10.10.1 (Yosemite) requires updating the system's routing configuration or configuring IPv6 on the network interface. By following the steps outlined above, users can resolve the 'No Route to Host' error and successfully use IPv6 for SSH connections.

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