Are /etc/hosts.allow and /etc/hosts.deny being used for access control 
on the cluster?  Perhaps the new MacBook ip is not permitted?  Logs on 
the cluster probably explain the failure, since that side is closing the 
connection.

-Ed


Pann McCuaig wrote:
> So here's the deal. One of my users just bought a small MacBook to keep
> her MacBook Pro company. Both are running fully updated Leopard.
> 
> She can log into our computing cluster login node, which is running
> SL4.7, just fine with her MacBook Pro. When she attempts to log into the
> same host with her MacBook, she gets this:
> 
> bash-3.2$ ssh -vv cluster.econ.columbia.edu
> OpenSSH_5.1p1, OpenSSL 0.9.7l 28 Sep 2006
> debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh_config
> debug2: ssh_connect: needpriv 0
> debug1: Connecting to cluster.econ.columbia.edu [128.59.160.209] port 22.
> debug1: Connection established.
> debug1: identity file /Users/(masked)/.ssh/identity type -1
> debug1: identity file /Users/(masked)/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
> debug1: identity file /Users/(masked)/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
> ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host
> bash-3.2$
> 
> No password is requested, although that should be the fallback
> authentication method.
> 
> /etc/ssh_config on both her Macs are box stock: all the defaults are
> listed as comments.
> 
> HOWEVER, not only can she log into assorted non-SL unix and linux
> systems with her new MacBook, she can log into a host running SL5.3.
> 
> /etc/sshd_config on both the SL4.7 and SL5.3 box are just as they come
> from the rpm, except for:
> 
> PermitRootLogin no
> 
> SL4.7
> -----
> openssh-3.9p1-11.el4_7.x86_64
> openssh-askpass-3.9p1-11.el4_7.x86_64
> openssh-askpass-gnome-3.9p1-11.el4_7.x86_64
> openssh-clients-3.9p1-11.el4_7.x86_64
> openssh-server-3.9p1-11.el4_7.x86_64
> 
> SL5.3
> -----
> openssh-4.3p2-29.el5.x86_64
> openssh-askpass-4.3p2-29.el5.x86_64
> openssh-clients-4.3p2-29.el5.x86_64
> openssh-server-4.3p2-29.el5.x86_64
> 
> Anyone have ANY IDEA what's going on?
> 
> Cheers,
>  Pann