Can't start SSH Daemon

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1

I’m trying to make SSH Daemon run in a Virtualbox Guest machine so that I can ssh into this from my host machine

My configuration

  ...
  services.openssh.enable = true;

  # Create a new user
  users.users.william = {
    ...
    hashedPassword = "<hashed-password>";
    openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = [
       "<public-key>"
    ];
  };
  users.mutableUsers = false;

My log retrieved with journalctl -eu sshd

Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 1.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 2.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 3.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Start request repeaAug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3428]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 1.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos sshd[3433]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:37 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 2.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3436]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 3.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3439]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Starting SSH Daemon...
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Started SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key "/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key": invalid format
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: Unable to load host key: /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos sshd[3442]: sshd: no hostkeys available -- exiting.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Stopped SSH Daemon.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Failed to start SSH Daemon.
ted too quickly.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: sshd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 08 08:20:38 nixos systemd[1]: Failed to start SSH Daemon.

Could you please tell me where I’m wrong?

P/S: This topic doesn’t help

2

I discovered that host keys are needed. Hence, I made the following changes and it works

{ config, pkgs, options, ... }:

{
  ...
  services.openssh.hostKeys = options.services.openssh.hostKeys.default;
  ...
}