Tutorial MacBook: How to delete and edit the known_hosts file? Reason: Can't SSH into server

[HelmutsHelmuts is verified member.]

Here is the situation: you have been ssh-ing into your server or vps from your office that has a static ip address.

Now, you are home, or at some coworking place or even family beach home, and you need to do some work with your server, and need to ssh into it.

.. I was just in this situation, has a bit of messy start .. and decided to share the workflow for those who are stuck here.

So, you open the macbook's terminal and type in:

ssh root@ipaddressofyourserver

and the terminal returns an error (screenshot contains a solution as well):

This simply means that the previously used IP address from whitch you ssh-ed into your server doesn't match your current IP.

Don't worry, the solution is really simple.

Start with entering the administrator mode in your terminal:

sudo su

Next, and navigate to folder where the known_hosts life is at:

cd /users/yourusername/.ssh/

Now you want to see if the known_hosts file is there:

ls -al

Remove the known_hosts file

rm known_hosts

Double check that the known_hosts file is actually removed:

ls -al

That is it You will be able to ssh into your server now and your macbook will log in the new IP.

Note, repeat these steps when you are back in your office

Do you want to edit the known_hosts file instead of brutally deleting it? No problem To edit the known_hosts file try one of following:

nano known_hosts

or:

vim known_hosts

or:

vi known_hosts

Note: I personally prefer 'nano' editor.

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Did this help you? A simple 'thank you' here in the comments will be enough

Best!
Helmuts