It eventually gets where I want it ... doesn't work, but at least its set right ... but why is it done 12 times? Note, I just added fprintf(stderr) messages to the case statements in the read_conf() section of servconf.c ... ./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 no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as yes sIgnoreRhosts triggered as no debug: sshd version OpenSSH-1.2.1 Server listening on port 22. Generating 768 bit RSA key. RSA key generation complete. 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"