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SSH session hangs when trying to edit httpd.conf




Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-18-2008, 05:53 PM
SSH session hangs when trying to edit httpd.conf I am running into a problem with my home linux server running Fedora 8 (2.6.26.6-49.fc8). The problem is with my SSH sessions, in that they hang or freeze when I try to run particular commands such as (ps -auxt or top) or when trying to edit (/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf) via VI or Pico. I am able to edit my pure-ftpd.conf file with little to no trouble through either Vi or Pico however. I did some research already on openssh.org but my problem does not resemble the tcp timeout issues I've seen described. When the SSH session hangs I'm forced to disconnect and then reconnect. Just curious if anyone has any ideas as to what I can try to resolve this problem. Thanks

Posted by cascoing, 11-18-2008, 06:07 PM
Once you open httpd.conf, Have you stayed ideal for some time, If so it may be a setting in ssh config file.

Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-18-2008, 06:44 PM
no actually the ssh session freezes almost, if not immediately. The only thing I can guess at this point is that maybe particular files or commands push too much data for the ssh session resulting in a freeze?

Posted by cascoing, 11-18-2008, 06:47 PM
hmm... Does the size of the files which you are accessing are more ?

Posted by Mike - Limestone, 11-18-2008, 06:55 PM
What SSH client are you using? -mike __________________Limestone Networks - Dedicated Server Hosting Premium Network - 24/7/365 Support Dallas Datacenter - Fully Routed Backend Networkhttp://www.limestonenetworks.com 1-877-586-0555

Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-19-2008, 11:49 AM
I'm starting to think that maybe the size of the files does matter. I've noticed that the problem also appears if I try to view large man files also. I'm using secure CRT for the client on my connecting win box.

Posted by Martin-D, 11-19-2008, 12:12 PM
Have you checked the TTL and Timeout/Keep Alive values in CRT?

Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-19-2008, 12:37 PM
I've looked, but I'm not seeing any options for TTL and Timeout/Keep Alive. All the same I don't believe I'm timing out as the lockup happens immediately upon attempt.

Posted by Mike - Limestone, 11-19-2008, 07:06 PM
Can you try the free SSH client PuTTY (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~s.../download.html) and let us know if the issue remains? That should help us determine if it is a server or a client issue. -mike __________________Limestone Networks - Dedicated Server Hosting Premium Network - 24/7/365 Support Dallas Datacenter - Fully Routed Backend Networkhttp://www.limestonenetworks.com 1-877-586-0555

Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-19-2008, 07:47 PM
ok just tested with puTTY with the same results. now I didn't configure anything special such as TTL etc. but I did get the exact same problem.. I successfully logged into the server via ssh, but when I run either vi /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf or pico /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf the session immediately freezes. although I am perfectly able to use vi/etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf or pico /etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf with no problems. my thinking at this time is that it might be related to the size of the .conf file I'm trying to edit or how much output a command I run will send back to the terminal. I say this because commands like sudo su - which have almost no output (other then the prompt) work great, but if I try to run ps -auxt I have the same problem.

Posted by Klentelaris, 11-19-2008, 08:18 PM
Well if nothing will work you can login to SFTP instead ssh and using that way edit httpd conf file using program winscp. __________________ My icq-103553630

Posted by albunix, 11-20-2008, 12:28 AM
hello, in my experience this is just a coincidence, and the root cause of the freeze is not you editing a file via vi or etc. How long have you been using SSH? Does it 'freeze' if you're doing other things? How about you leave things idle for a while? What does that do? Your router (DSL/CABLE gateway ) can be doing this as well. Can you not use 'vi' 'pico' or whatever you're using and use something else for editing? log through a different ssh and run top and monitor log files for any weird memory issues, but most importantly look at the ssh log I'd say vi/pico + ssh are fully unrelated. __________________Erald T -- Client Service EngineerNavisite Dedicated Hostinghttp://dedicatedhosting.navisite.com24/7/365" Myth or Reality

Posted by d3m0nh8, 11-20-2008, 11:45 AM
ok hopefully this helps to shed some light, as I have problems with sftp also. Same kind of thing where I run a command and it locks up the session immediately. In this case what I did was to use winscp to connect to my server, but when I ran cd \etc\httpd\conf\ it immediately freezes. I've been using winscp and even tried secureCRT with the same results. In regards to leaving things idle; I left the session open and idle to my server all night last night just at the prompt to test. I was able to pick it back up this morning with no problems until I attempted to edit the httpd.conf file which then froze my session immediately.



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