See similar: Out of nowhere, ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host

Today, 6/19/12 attempting to ssh to the same host as usual ssh replied

ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host

two additional attempts failed

ssh -v $RWS
OpenSSH_5.6p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8r 8 Feb 2011
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh_config
debug1: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to Real-World-Systems.com [174.127.119.33] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_rsa type 1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
ssh_exchange_identification: Connection closed by remote host

ping host was successful,

ftp host was successful,

ssh now successful,

ssh -v $RWS
OpenSSH_5.6p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8r 8 Feb 2011
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh_config
debug1: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to Real-World-Systems.com [174.127.119.33] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_rsa type 1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_4.3
debug1: match: OpenSSH_4.3 pat OpenSSH_4*
debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.6
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none
debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY
debug1: Host 'real-world-systems.com' is known and matches the RSA host key.
debug1: Found key in /Users/dgerman/.ssh/known_hosts:5
debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: Roaming not allowed by server
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,gssapi-with-mic,password
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Offering RSA public key: /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_rsa
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,gssapi-with-mic,password
debug1: Trying private key: /Users/dgerman/.ssh/id_dsa
debug1: Next authentication method: password

++++ What gives?? +++++++++++

Mac OS X 10.4.7 , OpenSSH_5.6p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8r 8 Feb 2011,

/Users/dgerman/.ssh > ls -la
total 24
drwx------    7 dgerman  staff    238 Jun 19 15:46 .
drwxr-xr-x  389 dgerman  staff  13226 Jun 19 15:46 ..
-rw-------    1 dgerman  staff   1766 Feb 26 18:25 id_rsa
-rw-r--r--    1 dgerman  staff    400 Feb 26 18:25 id_rsa.pub
-rw-r--r--    1 dgerman  staff     67 Feb 26 18:27 keyfingerprint
-rw-r--r--    1 dgerman  staff   6215 May  1 08:11 known_hosts
-rw-r--r--    1 dgerman  staff    220 Feb 26 18:26 randomart