[Bug 1780548] Re: SSH server won't start, exit code 255

[Alex Murray]

It looks like the ssh server configuration file has become corrupted -
notice the error message:

Error: command ['/usr/sbin/sshd', '-T'] failed with exit code 255: /etc/ssh/sshd_config: line 1: Bad configuration option: \342\200\213\342\200\213
 /etc/ssh/sshd_config: terminating, 1 bad configuration options

Have you edit this file? Can you please make sure it is valid.

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Title:
  SSH server won't start, exit code 255

Status in openssh package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I keep trying to set up external SSH access using openssh server on my
  18.04 system and it throws back this error

  sudo service ssh status
  ● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Sat 2018-07-07 09:33:19 CDT; 12min ago
    Process: 3243 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/sshd -t (code=exited, status=255)

  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: ssh.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: ssh.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: Stopped OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: ssh.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: ssh.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
  Jul 07 09:33:19 warehouse systemd[1]: Failed to start OpenBSD Secure Shell server.

  I was in the process of uninstalling the openssh-server and ssh
  packages and was prompted to start a bug report.  If it's in error,
  just let me know.  My ssh config file is all default except for
  passwordauthentication = yes.  I've toggled that to default as well,
  and still get the same error.

  ProblemType: Package
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
  Package: openssh-server 1:7.6p1-4
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-23.25-generic 4.15.18
  Uname: Linux 4.15.0-23-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: kpatch_livepatch_Ubuntu_4_15_0_23_25_generic_40
  ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
  AptOrdering:
   openssh-server:amd64: Install
   ssh:amd64: Install
   NULL: ConfigurePending
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Sat Jul  7 09:48:11 2018
  ErrorMessage: installed openssh-server package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-07-07 (0 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
  Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.5, python3-minimal, 3.6.5-3
  PythonDetails: N/A
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu2
   apt  1.6.2
  SSHDConfig:
   Error: command ['/usr/sbin/sshd', '-T'] failed with exit code 255: /etc/ssh/sshd_config: line 1: Bad configuration option: \342\200\213\342\200\213
   /etc/ssh/sshd_config: terminating, 1 bad configuration options
  SourcePackage: openssh
  Title: package openssh-server 1:7.6p1-4 failed to install/upgrade: installed openssh-server package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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