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Error: Invalid SSH Credentials Authentication Failed

Symptom​

When you register a Linux endpoint, the following error occurs:

Invalid SSH Credentials Authentication Failed

Cause​

Either the registration account is not in the /etc/sudoers file on the endpoint, or the password for that account does not match the password you use in the registration process. You register endpoints by using the Quickstart reporting tool or the API.

Resolution​

  1. Log in to the Linux endpoint over SSH with an account that has sudo privileges.

  2. Confirm that the registration account is in the /etc/passwd file, which lists all users that have basic access to the Linux system. The output of the following command displays the contents of the file:

    cat /etc/passwd

    • If the registration account is in the output, go to step 4 to test its password.

    • If the registration account is not in the output, create it. Replace <registration-account> with the name of the account that you use for the one-time registration of systems. The command can vary depending on the Linux operating system. For example, for an account named secureone, run sudo useradd secureone.

      sudo useradd <registration-account>

  3. If you created the account, set its password. The command can vary depending on the Linux operating system.

    sudo passwd <registration-account>

  4. Test the password for the account:

    su <registration-account>

  5. Confirm that the registration account is in the /etc/sudoers file. The output of the following command displays the contents of the file, which must list the registration account:

    sudo cat /etc/sudoers