How to Solve the SSH Connection Error: No route to host Error

SSH is a widely used protocol for secure remote access and management of systems. Occasionally, when attempting to establish an SSH connection, you may encounter the error message SSH Connection Error: No route to host.

This tutorial aims to explain the meaning behind this error, identify its potential causes, and provide possible solutions to help you resolve the issue.

What does this error mean?

This error typically indicates that the SSH client is unable to reach the destination host. The error message suggests that there is no valid route or path from the client system to the remote host. In simpler terms, the client is unable to establish a network connection with the host.

What causes the “SSH Connection Error: No route to host” Error?

There are several factors that can contribute to the “No route to host” error. Some common reasons include:

Is the Remote Host Up

The first and most common cause of this error is if the remote host is down. Before attempting to connect to the remote host, ensure the system is up and running using the ping command as shown:

ping 172.29.131.76

Replace the IP 172.29.131.76 with the IP address or hostname of your target host. If the remote host is up and running, you should see an output as shown:

PING 172.29.131.76 (172.29.131.76) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 172.29.131.76: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.014 ms
64 bytes from 172.29.131.76: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.016 ms
64 bytes from 172.29.131.76: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=0.018 ms

Once you have verified the host is up, you can proceed to the next possible cause of the error.

Firewall Settings

The second most common cause of this error is a firewall is blocking access to the SSH port. By default, SSH will run on port 22 unless explicitly specified.

Hence, ensure you have the SSH port allowed in your firewall. If you are using UFW, you can run the command:

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw reload

This should add port 22 to the firewall settings and allow incoming and outgoing connections. If SSH is running on a different port, replace the port 22 with your target port.

If you are using firewall-cmd on Fedora or REHL family, you can run the command:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=22/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Similarly, replace the port 22 with the port of your SSH server.

Once you have allowed the SSH server on your firewall, you can attempt to reconnect to the target host.

Conclusion

The SSH Connection Error: No route to host error indicates a failure to establish an SSH connection due to a lack of network route between the client and the remote host.

By understanding the causes outlined in this tutorial and following the troubleshooting steps provided, you can effectively diagnose and resolve the issue. Remember to verify the IP address, check network connectivity, review firewall settings, confirm port numbers,