I recently got Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, got it up and running with some MediaWiki software, static IP on the box and router and was able to access the main page even from a cell phone. Everything seemed great... Then I wanted to finally get rid of the monitor and keyboard and login remotely via SSH. I installed openssh-server, let everything point to port 22 for a test run and installed putty on my Windows XP machine. I got a connection refused. Went back and started checking the Ubuntu install itself... (I'm under root from this point on) $ sudo -s $ service ssh status ssh stop/waiting $ service ssh start ssh start/running, process 2212 $ service ssh status ssh stop/waiting Apparently ssh has stopped or is waiting for something.... $ ssh localhost ssh: connect to host localhost port 22: Connection refused I can't even connect to myself... I checked ufw (firewall) to see if port 22 is doing alright... $ sudo ufw status Status: active To Action From 22 ALLOW Anywhere 22/tcp ALLOW Anywhere 22 ALLOW Anywhere (v6) 22/tcp ALLOW Anywhere (v6) sshd_config shows only Port 22 Is ssh not using the right IP address at all? I just don't get what I did wrong here. When this is up and running I will def change the port number, but for now, I don't want to mess with the default install too much until a test run with putty is successful. Edit: Here are my sshd_config file and my ssh_config file. The command /usr/sbin/sshd -p 22 -D -d -e returns: /etc/ssh/sshd_config line 159: Subsystem 'sftp' already defined. Edit: @phoibus moving the sshd_config file and reinstalling did the trick! service ssh status the above command shows that ssh is now running and I am now able to log in from my windows xp computer remotely via putty. Thanks so much! I can now use my monitor for other things!