Perhaps adding: PermitRootLogin yes To your sshd_config will help. Another helpful option might me: UseDNS no Specifies whether sshd should lookup the remote host name and check that the resolved host name for the remote IP address maps back to the very same IP address. The default is ``yes''. (man sshd_config is your friend!) Idealy, this should be on. But sometimes you do want to turn it off...say when you're in a private network behind a firewall and your private IPS, (192.168.x.X, 10.0.0.X, etc...) don't resolve. You could aslo get around this by adding entries to /etc/hosts... If you do make changes to sshd_config, make sure you restart the ssh server before trying it. :) -- Andrew S. Zbikowski | http://andy.zibnet.us A password is like your underwear; Change it frequently, don't share it with others, and don't ask to borrow someone else's.