SSH shell execution failed: SSH key file not found

[jwgn]

Hi,

I cannot open a shell to an LXC container

[11:12:39 AM] [START] Starting shell session for container 110...
[11:12:39 AM] [ERROR] SSH shell execution failed: SSH key file not found

An issuee exists, but is closed without solution: #267 so I am not allowed to open a new one as per guidelines.

Can someone help?

[michelroegl-brunner]

What Version are you running on? Can you try a fresh install and try again. If it still fails can you please post the output of journalctl -u pvescriptslocal -n 200 directly after the error occurse? That will help me troubleshoot.

[jwgn]

This is a completely fresh install, installed 12 hours ago. Version is v0.5.1

Logs:

root@pve-scripts-local:~# journalctl -u pvescriptslocal -n 200
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.305Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.306Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.320Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.321Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.324Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.324Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.325Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.326Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.762Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.763Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.764Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.764Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.766Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.766Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.767Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.767Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.754Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.755Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.758Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.758Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.760Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.760Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.761Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.762Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}

[jwgn]

Restarted the service and tried again. Still [ERROR] SSH shell execution failed: SSH key file not found

root@pve-scripts-local:~# journalctl -u pvescriptslocal -n 200
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.305Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.306Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.320Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.321Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.324Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.324Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.325Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:09:57 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:09:57.326Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.762Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.763Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.764Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.764Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.766Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.766Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.767Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 11:12:28 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T10:12:28.767Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.754Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.755Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.758Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.758Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.760Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.760Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.761Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 12:26:07 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T11:26:07.762Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: Stopping pvescriptslocal.service - PVEScriptslocal Service...
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: Received SIGTERM, shutting down gracefully...
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: Stopping auto-sync service...
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: No active cron job to stop
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local npm[164]: Auto-sync service stopped
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: pvescriptslocal.service: Killing process 181 (SignalInspector) with signal SIGKILL.
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: pvescriptslocal.service: Deactivated successfully.
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: Stopped pvescriptslocal.service - PVEScriptslocal Service.
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: pvescriptslocal.service: Consumed 35.969s CPU time, 276.8M memory peak.
Dez 01 13:05:11 pve-scripts-local systemd[1]: Started pvescriptslocal.service - PVEScriptslocal Service.
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4173]: > pve-scripts-local@0.1.0 start
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4173]: > node --import tsx server.js
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: [dotenv@17.2.3] injecting env (0) from .env -- tip: 👥 sync secrets across teammates & machines: https://dotenvx.com/ops
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: > Ready on http://0.0.0.0:3000
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: > WebSocket server running on ws://0.0.0.0:3000/ws/script-execution
Dez 01 13:05:12 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Dynamically importing autoSyncInit...
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: autoSyncModule loaded, exports: [
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'getAutoSyncService',
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'initializeAutoSync',
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'initializeRepositories',
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'setAutoSyncService',
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'setupGracefulShutdown',
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]:   'stopAutoSync'
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: ]
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Calling initializeRepositories...
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Initializing default repositories...
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Default repositories initialized successfully
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Calling initializeAutoSync...
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Initializing auto-sync service...
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Auto-sync is disabled
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Auto-sync service initialized successfully
Dez 01 13:05:13 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: Setting up graceful shutdown...
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: (node:4186) [DEP0169] DeprecationWarning: `url.parse()` behavior is not standardized and prone to errors that have security implications. Use the WHATWG URL API instead. CVEs are not issued for `url.parse()` vulnerabilities.
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: (Use `node --trace-deprecation ...` to show where the warning was created)
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.927Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.928Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.934Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.934Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.936Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.937Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_request","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.939Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","queryKeys":[]}}
Dez 01 13:05:21 pve-scripts-local npm[4186]: {"level":"info","msg":"api_response","time":"2025-12-01T12:05:21.939Z","meta":{"method":"GET","path":"/api/settings/auth-credentials","status":200}}

[mzb2xeo]

Same issue. Verbose gives this:

✔️ LXC Container 103 was successfully created.
✔️ Started LXC Container
✔️ Network in LXC is reachable (ping)
✔️ Customized LXC Container
ct/../core/build.func: line 210: SSH_KEYS_FILE: unbound variable
[8:39:18 PM] ✅ SSH script execution finished with code: 1

[tomdh76]

Same issue trying to make a Booklore container:

✔️ LXC Container 123 was successfully created.
✔️ Started LXC Container
✔️ Network in LXC is reachable (ping)
✔️ Customized LXC Container
ct/../core/build.func: line 210: SSH_KEYS_FILE: unbound variable
[17:50:36] ✅ SSH script execution finished with code: 1

[johannes-sf]

This has worked for me:

Go to the pve-scripts-local LXC shell and do the following --->

Go to the app directory

cd /opt/ProxmoxVE-Local

Backup server.js

cp server.js server.js.bak

Apply the fix using sed

sed -i '/const { action, scriptPath, executionId, input, mode, server, isUpdate, isShell, isBackup, isClone, containerId, storage, backupStorage, cloneCount, hostnames, containerType, envVars } = message;/a

// Fix: If server uses key auth but ssh_key_path is missing, look it up from database
if (server && server.auth_type === "key" && !server.ssh_key_path && server.id) {
try {
const dbServer = await this.db.getServerById(server.id);
if (dbServer && dbServer.ssh_key_path) {
server.ssh_key_path = dbServer.ssh_key_path;
}
} catch (e) { console.error("ssh_key_path lookup failed:", e); }
}' server.js

Restart the app

systemctl restart pvescriptslocal

[tomdh76]

If I copy this sed command I get:

sed: -e expression #1, char 205: extra characters after command

[IXRaijin]

Thanks, this worked for me!

The sed one-liner didn’t work on my side though, it fails with:

"sed: -e expression #1, char 205: extra characters after command"

I ended up applying the fix manually by inserting the block immediately after:

const { action, scriptPath, executionId, input, mode, server, isUpdate, isShell, isBackup, isClone, containerId, storage, backupStorage, cloneCount, hostnames, containerType, envVars } = message;

if (server && server.auth_type === "key" && !server.ssh_key_path && server.id) {
try {
const dbServer = await this.db.getServerById(server.id);
if (dbServer && dbServer.ssh_key_path) {
server.ssh_key_path = dbServer.ssh_key_path;
}
} catch (e) {
console.error("ssh_key_path lookup failed:", e);
}
}

After restarting pvescriptslocal, the terminal worked as expected.

[Overbuilt6995]

Thank you! Fix worked for me as well.

Here's an updated sed one liner:

sed -i '/const { action, scriptPath, executionId, input, mode, server, isUpdate, isShell, isBackup, isClone, containerId, storage, backupStorage, cloneCount, hostnames, containerType, envVars } = message;/r /dev/stdin' server.js <<'EOF'
// Fix: If server uses key auth but ssh_key_path is missing, look it up from database
if (server && server.auth_type === "key" && !server.ssh_key_path && server.id) {
try {
const dbServer = await this.db.getServerById(server.id);
if (dbServer && dbServer.ssh_key_path) {
server.ssh_key_path = dbServer.ssh_key_path;
}
} catch (e) {
console.error("ssh_key_path lookup failed:", e);
}
}
EOF