further investigation...changing IgnoreRhosts to yes instead of no: eris:/var/src/openssh-1.2.1pre25> grep IgnoreRhosts /usr/local/etc/sshd_config IgnoreRhosts yes ./sshd -d sPermitRootLogin triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no debug: sshd version OpenSSH-1.2.1 Problem here? Marc G. Fournier marc.fournier at acadiau.ca Senior Systems Administrator Acadia University "These are my opinions, which are not necessarily shared by my employer"