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SSH error "No supported authentication methods": how to fix it

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This SSH error means: the server only accepts key-based login (publickey), but your client did not send a key, or not a matching one. Password login is deliberately disabled on rack::SPEED servers.

The complete error message looks like this:

No supported authentication methods available
(server sent: publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic)

Cause

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One of three possibilities:

  1. No key pair exists yet for your account.
  2. The key is not added on the server or (cPanel) not authorized.
  3. The client does not send the key: missing -i argument in the terminal or missing key file in the PuTTY settings.

Solution

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Go through the SSH setup guide once from the beginning. It covers all three causes:

  • Create and add the key (Plesk: create locally + extension/authorized_keys; cPanel: generator + authorize. Forgetting the authorize click is the most common single cause).
  • Connect with the key specified: terminal ssh -i ~/.ssh/YOUR-KEY USER@yourdomain.com, PuTTY Connection → SSH → Auth → Credentials.

After that, the login connects without this error message. You are only asked for the key’s passphrase (not the FTP or panel password).

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Still stuck?

Section titled “Still stuck?”

If the error persists even though the key is added and authorized: open a ticket in the customer center. Ideal for diagnosis: the output of ssh -v -i ~/.ssh/YOUR-KEY USER@yourdomain.com (verbose mode).

Hosting plans and serversNot a rack::SPEED customer yet? This guide applies to our hosting plans and servers, looked after by engineers instead of a call center, since 2008.