SSH warning - Host identification changed

SSH host keys are a security feature used to verify the authenticity of the server you are connecting to. When the host key changes, SSH/sFTP clients raise a warning because the fingerprint of the server no longer matches the one stored on your system.

Legitimate reasons for this to happen are:

• Uplift/reinstall of the server operating system.

• SSH host key is regenerated on the server.

• You are accessing using a host/domain name that is now pointing to a newly migrated server.

If our support staff confirm any of the above reason, you can safely accept the new host key on your SSH client.

To accept the new host key:
When using PuTTY, you can click on the ‘Accept’ button on the warning dialog box.

When using the OpenSSH command-line client, you need to run the following command to remove the old key. When you next connect to the server, you will be prompted to accept the new host key.

Screenshots of warning messages from SSH and sFTP clients:

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PuTTY

Open

OpenSSH Client