SSH error

[Michael]

I am trying to set up Minarca server and Minarca client for the first time. I have Minarca server installed on Ubuntu 24.04.03. I have Minarca client installed for MacOS 26.1.

I can access the Minarca server webpage by logging in as admin or as a user. But when I try to set up the Minarca client for the user, I get stuck at the Create online backup: Server connection. The error is "An error occurred during the connection to Minarca server: Details: ssh." 

From the MacOS client I can ssh just fine using ssh keys either as admin or as the user. I have no idea where to go from here. I tried to look at the minarca server logs but could not discern anything useful. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Michael]

Looking at the user admin page, I can see that Minarca appears to be ignoring the SSH key I added and instead, each time I try to set up the Minarca client for the user, it is adding an additional SSH key. So after trying repeatedly, I get a whole bunch of mystery SSH keys that are not ones I added for the user. No idea where they are coming from. 

[Patrik Dufresne]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the detailed explanation — what you’re seeing is actually normal behavior.

The Minarca client automatically generates its own SSH identity the first time it tries to connect to the server. Each connection attempt can result in a new key being uploaded if the previous attempt didn’t complete successfully. That’s why you’re seeing “mystery” SSH keys appear in the user admin page — they’re coming from the client itself, not from keys you manually added.

If you’d like, you can safely revoke or delete all of those SSH keys and start fresh. Minarca will simply generate a new one on the next connection attempt.

That said, if the connection is still failing and you’d like help troubleshooting, we’ll need a bit more technical detail about your setup, along with the relevant logs:

• Server logs: server.log and shell.log
• Client log: minarca.log

The exact locations of these files are documented in the Minarca documentation.

Once you can share those details, it should be much easier to pinpoint what’s preventing the SSH connection from completing successfully.

Best regards,

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Patrik Dufresne
IKUS Software
https://www.ikus-soft.com/
514-971-6442
St-Colomban, QC J5K 1T9

[Michael]

Attached is the client minarca.log file. I can see where, when it tries to establish the ssh key, it throws an error. For example:

```

2026-01-04 08:47:23,875 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] Configuring remote instance with URL: http://10.0.1.4:8080, username: rhead, repositoryname: MacBookPro, force: False
2026-01-04 08:47:23,986 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] Starting new HTTP connection (1): 10.0.1.4:8080
2026-01-04 08:47:24,128 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] http://10.0.1.4:8080 "GET /api/ HTTP/1.1" 200 20
2026-01-04 08:47:24,186 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] http://10.0.1.4:8080 "GET /api/currentuser/ HTTP/1.1" 200 211
2026-01-04 08:47:24,187 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: exchanging SSH identity with server
2026-01-04 08:47:24,247 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] http://10.0.1.4:8080 "POST /api/currentuser/sshkeys HTTP/1.1" 400 513
2026-01-04 08:47:24,248 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: generating new SSH identity after failure
2026-01-04 08:47:24,310 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: exchanging new SSH identity with server
2026-01-04 08:47:24,465 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] http://10.0.1.4:8080 "POST /api/currentuser/sshkeys HTTP/1.1" 200 414
2026-01-04 08:47:24,591 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] http://10.0.1.4:8080 "GET /api/minarca/ HTTP/1.1" 200 1578
2026-01-04 08:47:24,593 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: testing connection
2026-01-04 08:47:24,593 [25024][ERROR][MainThread  ] unknown exception
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "minarca_client/ui/backup_connection_remote.py", line 272, in _create_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/exceptions.py", line 62, in wrapper
  File "minarca_client/core/backup.py", line 314, in configure_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 533, in test_connection
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 626, in _remote_schema
  File "minarca_client/core/compat.py", line 206, in get_ssh
FileNotFoundError: ssh

```

Same with trying to connect to the test server:

```

2026-01-04 10:33:36,297 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] Configuring remote instance with URL: https://test.minarca.net/, username: rhead, repositoryname: MacBookPro, force: False
2026-01-04 10:33:36,429 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] Starting new HTTPS connection (1): test.minarca.net:443
2026-01-04 10:33:37,065 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] https://test.minarca.net:443 "GET /api/ HTTP/1.1" 200 38
2026-01-04 10:33:37,476 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] https://test.minarca.net:443 "GET /api/currentuser/ HTTP/1.1" 200 186
2026-01-04 10:33:37,487 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: exchanging SSH identity with server
2026-01-04 10:33:38,182 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] https://test.minarca.net:443 "POST /api/currentuser/sshkeys HTTP/1.1" 400 513
2026-01-04 10:33:38,183 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: generating new SSH identity after failure
2026-01-04 10:33:38,234 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: exchanging new SSH identity with server
2026-01-04 10:33:38,238 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] Resetting dropped connection: test.minarca.net
2026-01-04 10:33:39,240 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] https://test.minarca.net:443 "POST /api/currentuser/sshkeys HTTP/1.1" 200 414
2026-01-04 10:33:39,604 [25024][DEBUG][AsyncioExecu] https://test.minarca.net:443 "GET /api/minarca/ HTTP/1.1" 200 1005
2026-01-04 10:33:39,612 [25024][DEBUG][MainThread  ] instance 0: testing connection
2026-01-04 10:33:39,612 [25024][ERROR][MainThread  ] unknown exception
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "minarca_client/ui/backup_connection_remote.py", line 272, in _create_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/exceptions.py", line 62, in wrapper
  File "minarca_client/core/backup.py", line 314, in configure_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 533, in test_connection
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 626, in _remote_schema
  File "minarca_client/core/compat.py", line 206, in get_ssh
FileNotFoundError: ssh

```

[Patrik Dufresne]

Minarca cannot find the executable named "ssh". It seams your Mac doesn't ship "ssh". Could you tell me which version of MacOS you are running ?

You might need to install ssh manually to get it working.

To make sure the server is working as expected. Could you test with a Windows Client ?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/8c92ba06-628b-4d1b-bff2-40cccaf55facn%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

macOS 26.2, running on a MacBook Pro M1. It definitely has ssh. I use ssh every day, and I use it to log into the Linux server where I set up the Minarca server. So the error about not finding ssh makes no sense. And no, I cannot try it on a Windows machine. Even if I had a Windows computer, I don’t see how that would help my Mac client connect to the Minarca test server. Thanks for looking at the error logs though. 

[Patrik Dufresne]

Hello Michael,

The error below indicates that the client is unable to locate the ssh executable, which is unexpected. Could you please verify where ssh is located on your system? Running which ssh in a terminal should return its full path. I'm expecting the path to be: /usr/bin/ssh.

2026-01-04 10:40:34,185 [25024][ERROR][MainThread  ] unknown exception
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "minarca_client/ui/backup_connection_remote.py", line 272, in _create_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/exceptions.py", line 62, in wrapper
  File "minarca_client/core/backup.py", line 314, in configure_remote
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 533, in test_connection
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 626, in _remote_schema
  File "minarca_client/core/compat.py", line 206, in get_ssh
FileNotFoundError: ssh

Regarding testing on Windows, the goal would simply be to confirm whether the issue is client-specific or related to the server configuration.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/8e5eb869-de64-4591-aecd-f81365283ad8n%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

Yes, it is at /usr/bin/ssh:

```

 ~ % which ssh                
/usr/bin/ssh

```

[Michael]

I was able to use the instructions at this comment to compile minarca client from git. That works, in that I was able to connect to the server and start a backup. Doesn't completely solve my problem because I need a non-terminal GUI application that I can install on other computers for users that are definitely not going to use the terminal. But it suggests a problem with the non-arm version of the client UI—maybe some permissions issue?

[Patrik Dufresne]

Would you be willing to test with the beta version of Minarca client ? here: https://minarca.org/en_CA/beta

If it's not working, I might create a special version to help us debug why Minarca cannot find the "ssh" executable in your context.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/2b794776-9121-4e97-a75b-70f54fbe1bf4n%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

When I open the beta version, I see the following error related to ssh. (Keep in mind that I successfully ran Minarca client from the compiled version in the terminal, and so it can see that I have a backup.) 

[Patrik Dufresne]

Hello Michael,

I'm getting back to you. Sorry for the delay. I was busy with the release of Minarca v6.2.0.

About your ssh executable. Could you share with me the result of this command:

ls -la /usr/bin/ssh

In addition, I invite you to test this version of Minarca. Then check the logs. You should see a log line like: 

looking for `{name}` executable in path {path}

and Possibly an exception like : 

No such file or directory

https://nexus.ikus-soft.com/repository/archive/minarca/6.2.1.dev1%2Bg334e893f8/minarca-client_6.2.1.dev1%2Bg334e893f8.dmg

Thanks for your support to help me debug this issue.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/6201402f-bca9-4736-9fc2-c1742163f529n%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

Patrik:

The command gives me:

ls -la /usr/bin/ssh
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  1556464 Oct 28 18:21 /usr/bin/ssh

The log for the 6.2.1.dev version:

2026-01-15 07:56:04,289 [53595][DEBUG   ][MainThread  ] Starting new HTTPS connection (1): latest.ikus-soft.com:443
2026-01-15 07:56:04,518 [53595][DEBUG   ][MainThread  ] https://latest.ikus-soft.com:443 "GET /minarca/latest_version HTTP/1.1" 200 5
2026-01-15 07:56:04,520 [53595][INFO    ][MainThread  ] looking for `minarca` executable in path /Applications/Minarca 3.app/Contents/MacOS:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin
2026-01-15 07:56:04,523 [53595][DEBUG   ][MainThread  ] instance 0: starting backup with force: True
2026-01-15 07:56:04,534 [53595][WARNING ][MainThread  ] failed to set keep awake

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 114, in safe_keepawake
  File "wakepy/_darwin.py", line 32, in set_keepawake
  File "subprocess.py", line 1028, in __init__
  File "subprocess.py", line 1963, in _execute_child
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'caffeinate'
2026-01-15 07:56:04,536 [53595][INFO    ][MainThread  ] instance 0: backup START
2026-01-15 07:56:04,538 [53595][INFO    ][MainThread  ] looking for `ssh` executable in path /Applications/Minarca 3.app/Contents/MacOS:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin
2026-01-15 07:56:04,538 [53595][ERROR   ][MainThread  ] instance 0: backup FAILED
2026-01-15 07:56:04,540 [53595][ERROR   ][MainThread  ] unexpected error retrieving patterns

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "main.py", line 784, in main
  File "main.py", line 74, in _backup
  File "asyncio/runners.py", line 195, in run
  File "asyncio/runners.py", line 118, in run
  File "asyncio/base_events.py", line 691, in run_until_complete
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 247, in backup
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 267, in _backup_drive
  File "minarca_client/core/instance.py", line 623, in _remote_schema
  File "minarca_client/core/compat.py", line 412, in get_ssh
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'ssh'

Regards,

Michael

[Patrik Dufresne]

Hello Micheal,

Based on that, Is see your PATH doesn't contains /usr/bin/

> looking for `ssh` executable in path /Applications/Minarca 3.app/Contents/MacOS:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin

This is not expected. Default PATH on MacOS should include at least /usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin. The current value defines for your PATH is a strong signal the PATH environment variable was replaced and it's a mistake.

Could you check on your side what might override your PATH value ?

That said, I might provide a fix to include minimal PATH value.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/a2cb7938-f470-40a2-b208-1ab115dcc7efn%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

Presumably, it is because /opt/homebrew/bin is before /usr/bin?  I am pretty sure that is what Homebrew wants. But I can try changing it if you have suggestions? 

Current path:

echo $PATH | tr ':' '\n'%                                                       
/Users/user/.local/bin
/opt/homebrew/bin/python3
/Users/user/.nvm/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/bin
/opt/homebrew/bin
/opt/homebrew/sbin
/usr/local/bin
/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin
/usr/bin
/bin
/usr/sbin
/sbin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin
/opt/pmk/env/global/bin
/Library/Apple/usr/bin
/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/21.7.1/bin
/Users/user/.cargo/bin
/Users/user/.codeium/windsurf/bin
/Users/user/.lmstudio/bin

[Patrik Dufresne]

Hello Michael,

Thanks for your time.

Here a dev version that should fix this issue by defining default PATH values which are expected to be in the PATH. Could you take the time to test ? 

https://nexus.ikus-soft.com/repository/archive/minarca/6.2.1.dev1%2Bg11da26a59/minarca-client_6.2.1.dev1%2Bg11da26a59.dmg

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/6fe2d5c7-eb1f-4dbd-99ae-c4cf1fcbfd05n%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael]

Yes, that dev version fixed the issue. Thanks!

[Patrik Dufresne]

I will release a hot fix with this modification probably this week.

Thanks for your help and enjoy Minarca !

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/minarca/f3705df4-a0de-446d-a438-0c9b80a15846n%40googlegroups.com.