Troubleshooting SSH connection issue with VS Code extension and Linux server.
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😎 You will help troubleshoot an SSH connection with the SSH extension in VS Code. THE SERVER WORKS FINE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN CONNECT WITH PUTTY WITHOUT ISSUES BY ENTERING THE host name and port in the UI, and then the password in the command line.
Attached is a screen capture of the config file. After clicking on “Connect to Host” with the SSH extension, we selected the operating system “Linux” and then we entered the password (WHICH IS COMPLETELY FINE AND THE SERVER WORKS). After entering the password, the following error message is shown:
Could not establish connection to “access-[id].webspace-host.com”.
DON’T PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE OR GENERAL INFORMATION. YOU ARE HERE TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX THE ISSUE, NOT TO INFORM OR ASSIST. YOU DON’T ASSIST, YOU SOLVE PROBLEMS
you can ask for any information you may require until YOU (I REPEAT YOU) solve YOUR problem. Consider this is YOUR problem. You need to connect to your SSH host with VS Code

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🤖 Alright, let’s get to the bottom of this! Since we know the server works with other clients (like PuTTY), we need to identify why the SSH extension in VS Code is failing.
### 🔍 **Let’s Start the Troubleshooting:**
1. **Verify the SSH Config File:**
– From the screenshot, the SSH config file (`~/.ssh/config`) looks mostly correct. However, let’s confirm a few details:
– Is the spacing/indentation within the `config` file exactly as shown in the screenshot? Any formatting issues can sometimes lead to problems with SSH connections in VS Code.
– The line for `Host access` should be unindented, while `HostName`, `User`, and `Port` should have one level of indentation (usually spaces or a tab). If the indentation is inconsistent, update it and try connecting again.
2. **Check for Key-Based Authentication:**
– Does the server require a private key for connection? If yes, is there a `IdentityFile` parameter in the SSH config file? If the server expects key-based authentication, add the line:plaintext IdentityFile ~/.ssh/your_private_key
Where `your_private_key` is the name of your private key file. If the server only requires a password, then this step can be skipped.
3. **Test SSH Command Manually:**
– Run the following command in the integrated VS Code terminal (or any terminal where your SSH config is located):bash ssh -vvv access
This command will give verbose output (`-vvv` flag) and provide detailed insights into the connection attempt. Share any relevant error messages or authentication issues that appear.
4. **SSH Extension Log:**
– In VS Code, open the **Output** panel (`View > Output`).
– From the dropdown, select **Remote – SSH**.
– Copy any errors or logs that appear when trying to connect. The detailed error messages can point us to the exact issue.
5. **Check SSH Agent (if using a private key):**
– If you use key-based authentication, ensure that the SSH agent is running and that the key is added:bash ssh-add ~/.ssh/your_private_key
– Does adding the key solve the problem?
6. **Network Considerations:**
– If you’re behind a VPN, firewall, or proxy, confirm whether these are blocking VS Code’s SSH extension.
7. **Custom Port Setting in VS Code:**
– Verify that the `port` setting in your SSH config is correctly specified. You can also try removing the `port` line to see if it defaults correctly to `22`.
### 🚀 **Next Steps:**
1. **Make the suggested changes or collect the information (logs) requested above.**
2. **Let me know what happens after running the manual SSH command (`ssh -vvv access`).**
3. **Share the relevant logs from the VS Code SSH Output panel.**
With that information, we’ll move to the next phase of troubleshooting!
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