SOLVED for me. I was having a 5-10 second delay when logging in via SSH. Here was my fix: - On the client: In /etc/ssh/ssh_config, set: 'GSSAPIAuthentication no' -On the server: In /etc/nsswitch.conf, change the 'hosts:' line to read this: 'hosts: files dns' After those two changes, logins were smoking fast. Here is an ssh -vvv trace of when I was having the problem, look for line that says "***LOGIN DELAY ": OpenSSH_4.6p1 Debian-5build1, OpenSSL 0.9.8e 23 Feb 2007 debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config debug1: Applying options for * debug2: ssh_connect: needpriv 0 debug1: Connecting to ***HIDDEN*** port 22. debug1: Connection established. debug1: identity file /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/identity type -1 debug3: Not a RSA1 key file /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_rsa. debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type '-----BEGIN' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug3: key_read: missing whitespace debug2: key_type_from_name: unknown key type '-----END' debug3: key_read: missing keytype debug1: identity file /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_rsa type 1 debug1: identity file /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_dsa type -1 debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_4.6p1 Debian-5build1 debug1: match: OpenSSH_4.6p1 Debian-5build1 pat OpenSSH* debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0 debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_4.6p1 Debian-5build1 debug2: fd 3 setting O_NONBLOCK debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: ssh-rsa,ssh-dss debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,arcfour128,arcfour256,arcfour,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,arcfour128,arcfour256,arcfour,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,hmac-ripemd160,,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,hmac-ripemd160,,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,,zlib debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none,,zlib debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: first_kex_follows 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: reserved 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: ssh-rsa,ssh-dss debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,arcfour128,arcfour256,arcfour,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,arcfour128,arcfour256,arcfour,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,hmac-ripemd160,,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,hmac-ripemd160,,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none, debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: none, debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: first_kex_follows 0 debug2: kex_parse_kexinit: reserved 0 debug2: mac_init: found hmac-md5 debug1: kex: server->client aes128-cbc hmac-md5 none debug2: mac_init: found hmac-md5 debug1: kex: client->server aes128-cbc hmac-md5 none debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP debug2: dh_gen_key: priv key bits set: 148/256 debug2: bits set: 489/1024 debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: filename /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/known_hosts debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: match line 1 debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: filename /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/known_hosts debug3: check_host_in_hostfile: match line 8 debug1: Host '***HIDDEN***' is known and matches the RSA host key. debug1: Found key in /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/known_hosts:1 debug2: bits set: 498/1024 debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct debug2: kex_derive_keys debug2: set_newkeys: mode 1 debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS debug2: set_newkeys: mode 0 debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received debug2: key: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/identity ((nil)) debug2: key: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_rsa (0x80057558) debug2: key: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_dsa ((nil)) ***LOGIN DELAY OF 5-10 SECONDS HERE*** debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password debug3: start over, passed a different list publickey,password debug3: preferred publickey,keyboard-interactive,password debug3: authmethod_lookup publickey debug3: remaining preferred: keyboard-interactive,password debug3: authmethod_is_enabled publickey debug1: Next authentication method: publickey debug1: Trying private key: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/identity debug3: no such identity: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/identity debug1: Offering public key: /home/***HIDDEN***/.ssh/id_rsa debug3: send_pubkey_test debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply debug1: Server accepts key: pkalg ssh-rsa blen 277 debug2: input_userauth_pk_ok: fp 82:3e:2d:18:5a:fe:74:03:fa:0d:a8:b7:e2:d9:5a:2f debug3: sign_and_send_pubkey debug1: read PEM private key done: type RSA debug1: Authentication succeeded (publickey). debug2: fd 6 setting O_NONBLOCK debug1: channel 0: new [client-session] debug3: ssh_session2_open: channel_new: 0 debug2: channel 0: send open debug1: Entering interactive session. debug2: callback start debug2: client_session2_setup: id 0 debug2: channel 0: request pty-req confirm 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: ospeed 38400 debug3: tty_make_modes: ispeed 38400 debug3: tty_make_modes: 1 3 debug3: tty_make_modes: 2 28 debug3: tty_make_modes: 3 127 debug3: tty_make_modes: 4 21 debug3: tty_make_modes: 5 4 debug3: tty_make_modes: 6 255 debug3: tty_make_modes: 7 255 debug3: tty_make_modes: 8 17 debug3: tty_make_modes: 9 19 debug3: tty_make_modes: 10 26 debug3: tty_make_modes: 12 18 debug3: tty_make_modes: 13 23 debug3: tty_make_modes: 14 22 debug3: tty_make_modes: 18 15 debug3: tty_make_modes: 30 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 31 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 32 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 33 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 34 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 35 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 36 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 37 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 38 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 39 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 40 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 41 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 50 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 51 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 52 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 53 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 54 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 55 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 56 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 57 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 58 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 59 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 60 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 61 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 62 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 70 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 71 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 72 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 73 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 74 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 75 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 90 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 91 1 debug3: tty_make_modes: 92 0 debug3: tty_make_modes: 93 0 debug1: Sending environment. debug3: Ignored env SSH_AGENT_PID debug3: Ignored env SHELL debug3: Ignored env TERM debug3: Ignored env GTK_RC_FILES debug3: Ignored env WINDOWID debug3: Ignored env OLDPWD debug3: Ignored env USER debug3: Ignored env LS_COLORS debug3: Ignored env LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH debug3: Ignored env SSH_AUTH_SOCK debug3: Ignored env GNOME_KEYRING_SOCKET debug3: Ignored env SESSION_MANAGER debug3: Ignored env USERNAME debug3: Ignored env PATH debug3: Ignored env DESKTOP_SESSION debug3: Ignored env GDM_XSERVER_LOCATION debug3: Ignored env PWD debug1: Sending env LANG = en_US.UTF-8 debug2: channel 0: request env confirm 0 debug3: Ignored env GDM_LANG debug3: Ignored env GDMSESSION debug3: Ignored env HISTCONTROL debug3: Ignored env SHLVL debug3: Ignored env HOME debug3: Ignored env GNOME_DESKTOP_SESSION_ID debug3: Ignored env LOGNAME debug3: Ignored env XDG_DATA_DIRS debug3: Ignored env DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS debug3: Ignored env LESSOPEN debug3: Ignored env WINDOWPATH debug3: Ignored env DISPLAY debug3: Ignored env LESSCLOSE debug3: Ignored env COLORTERM debug3: Ignored env XAUTHORITY debug3: Ignored env _ debug2: channel 0: request shell confirm 0 debug2: fd 3 setting TCP_NODELAY debug2: callback done debug2: channel 0: open confirm rwindow 0 rmax 32768 debug2: channel 0: rcvd adjust 131072 debug2: channel 0: rcvd eof debug2: channel 0: output open -> drain debug2: channel 0: obuf empty debug2: channel 0: close_write debug2: channel 0: output drain -> closed debug1: client_input_channel_req: channel 0 rtype exit-status reply 0 debug2: channel 0: rcvd close debug2: channel 0: close_read debug2: channel 0: input open -> closed debug3: channel 0: will not send data after close debug2: channel 0: almost dead debug2: channel 0: gc: notify user debug2: channel 0: gc: user detached debug2: channel 0: send close debug2: channel 0: is dead debug2: channel 0: garbage collecting debug1: channel 0: free: client-session, nchannels 1 debug3: channel 0: status: The following connections are open: #0 client-session (t4 r0 i3/0 o3/0 fd -1/-1 cfd -1) debug3: channel 0: close_fds r -1 w -1 e 6 c -1 debug1: fd 2 clearing O_NONBLOCK Connection to ***HIDDEN*****HIDDEN**** closed. debug1: Transferred: stdin 0, stdout 0, stderr 39 bytes in 2.8 seconds debug1: Bytes per second: stdin 0.0, stdout 0.0, stderr 13.9 debug1: Exit status 0 -Anthony Hildoer http://www.hildoersystems.com