Network Management

Unable to Push Linux Agent Install or Validate Credentials in the SolarWinds Platform

This article shows you how to debug the SSH connection when validating credentials or pushing a new Linux Agent.

First published date

3/4/2026 11:47 PM

Last published date

3/5/2026 12:39 AM

Overview

When deploying the SolarWinds Platform Agent to a Linux/Unix host via push deployment, the platform validates the provided SSH credentials before installation begins. This credential test confirms that the SolarWinds Platform server can connect to the target machine, identify the operating system, and transfer files via SFTP/SCP. When this step fails, you'll typically see this error message:

  • "Failed to validate credentials for deployment. Authentication to remote host failed."

 

 

Product section

Orion Platform

Cause

Potential causes:

-port 22 blocked

-Unable to resolve Hostname

-Incorrect credentials

-Inefficient access with provided credentials

-Low Space in the /usr directory

-sftp service not running

-incompatible operating system

 

Resolution

To find out what might be causing issues with the potential connection, you'll need to open up LogAdjuster.exe on the polling engine that the Agent will be assigned to.  At the top of Log Adjuster, there will be a section for Agent Management. Set the whole section to DEBUG and click Apply at the bottom.

 

 

After setting the logging to DEBUG, you'll then need to test pushing the Linux Agent and let the failure occur. Next, navigate to C:\ProgramData\SolarWinds\Logs\AgentManagement\ and find the RemoteDeployment.Worker.log. Review the log for any potential failures.

 

2026-03-04 17:17:24,843 [.NET TP Worker] DEBUG SolarWinds.AgentManagement.Jobs.SshDeployment.SshClient - Created SshClient instance [FileTransferClient] with setting
ShortInputReadTimeout: 00:00:01
DefaultInputReadTimeout: 00:05:00
InstallCommandTimeout: 00:05:10
2026-03-04 17:17:24,843 [.NET TP Worker] DEBUG SolarWinds.AgentManagement.Jobs.SshDeployment.CommandExecutorFactory - Creating DefaultSshCommandExecutor: FileTransferClient
2026-03-04 17:17:24,844 [.NET TP Worker] DEBUG SolarWinds.AgentManagement.Jobs.SshDeployment.SshClient - CommandClient: Connect: attemping to connect to SERVERNAME:22
2026-03-04 17:17:25,097 [.NET TP Worker] DEBUG SolarWinds.AgentManagement.Jobs.SshDeployment.SshClient - CommandClient: Connect: attemping to authenticate as USERNAME
2026-03-04 17:17:27,434 [.NET TP Worker] ERROR SolarWinds.AgentManagement.Jobs.SshDeployment.SshClient - SSH: Authentication failed:  <ChilkatLog>
  <AuthenticatePw_ssh ms="2328">
    <DllDate>Jul 27 2025</DllDate>
    <ChilkatVersion>11.1.0</ChilkatVersion>
    <UnlockPrefix>SLRWND</UnlockPrefix>
    <UnlockStatus>2</UnlockStatus>
    <Architecture>Little Endian; 64-bit</Architecture>
    <Language>Visual C++ 2022 / x64</Language>
    <VerboseLogging>1</VerboseLogging>
    <authenticatePw ms="2328">
      <login>[root]</login>
      <sshServerVersion>SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.0</sshServerVersion>
      <sshAuthenticatePw ms="2328">
        <requestUserAuthService ms="31">
          <sendServiceRequest>
            <svcName>ssh-userauth</svcName>
            <SentServiceReq>ssh-userauth</SentServiceReq>
          </sendServiceRequest>
          <info>ssh-userauth service accepted.</info>
        </requestUserAuthService>
        <AuthMethods>publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic,password,keyboard-interactive</AuthMethods>
        <passwordAuth ms="2250">
          <info>Sent login/password</info>
          <error>Authentication failed or partial success. (1)</error>
          <PartialSuccess1>0</PartialSuccess1>
          <AuthList>publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic,password,keyboard-interactive</AuthList>
          <important>
            <error>This is likely a simple invalid login and/or password error,</error>
            <error>meaning your application did not send the correct login and/or password.</error>
          </important>
        </passwordAuth>
      </sshAuthenticatePw>
    </authenticatePw>
    <error>Failed.</error>
  </AuthenticatePw_ssh>
</ChilkatLog>

 

Ensure that connectivity is open to and from the Linux Server:

Agent Initiated

curl -k https://<OrionServer>:17778/solarwinds/agentmanagement/api/TestConnection
Server Initiated
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName <LinuxServer> -Port 17790


You may also use a "pull" installation method if you have access to the Linux server directly.

Navigate to https://OrionServer/Orion/AgentManagement/Admin/DownloadAgent.aspx
Follow the steps to manually deploy a Linux Agent.