Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: What can cause SSH login error: ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host

SSH login error caused by incompatible SSH configuration on Google Cloud VM.

Quick Answer: Check the sshd_config file for GatewayPorts clientspecified and ensure it is set to allow incoming connections.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host' can cause frustration when trying to establish an SSH connection. This issue affects users who are attempting to remotely access a server or virtual machine (VM) via SSH.

This error is particularly frustrating because it seems like the connection should be established, but instead, the connection is abruptly closed. However, this error is often caused by misconfigurations in the firewall rules and SSH settings.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the remote host (the VM) has a firewall rule blocking the incoming SSH connection. The 'GatewayPorts clientspecified' option in the sshd_config file may also be causing issues, as it restricts the ability to connect to the VM's IP address from outside the network.
  • Another alternative reason for this error is that the remote host's SSH server is not configured correctly or is experiencing connectivity issues. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as incorrect port forwarding settings or issues with the SSH server itself.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Disable firewall rule and use port forwarding

  1. Step 1: To disable the firewall rule, go to the Google Cloud Console and navigate to the Network & Security > Firewall rules section. Select the specific firewall rule that is blocking the SSH connection and click on 'Edit'. Then, select the 'Allow' option for the specified port range (in this case, 2222) and click 'Save'.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can use port forwarding to forward incoming connections from a different port to the remote host's SSH port. To do this, add the following line to your ssh command: `-L 2222:localhost:22`. This will forward incoming connections on port 2222 to the remote host's SSH server on port 22.
  3. Step 3: Finally, verify that the firewall rule is not blocking any other necessary ports or services.

Verify SSH server configuration and address

  1. Step 1: To verify the SSH server configuration, check the sshd_config file for any errors or misconfigurations. Make sure that the 'GatewayPorts clientspecified' option is not causing issues.
  2. Step 2: Additionally, ensure that the remote host's IP address is correctly configured and can be resolved by the destination machine. You can use tools like nslookup to verify this.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host' error and establish a successful SSH connection to your Google Cloud VM. If you continue to experience issues, it may be necessary to investigate further or seek additional support.

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