SSH/SFTP works with all methods except rclone delivers multiple "connection refused"

Help and Support
1

What is the problem you are having with rclone?

While using the ssh/sftp configuration from my Unraid server to my seedbox, I receive multiple connection refused messages but the connection does appear to be active and transfers are being attempted. I am currently performing this connection using ssh keys, but previously when I used a password there was no difference.

If I stop the rclone process, all other ssh methods are refused for a period of time (I assume this is a cooldown period). Aside from this cooldown period, I can successfully ssh/sftp from Windows PuTTY (password), Windows Filezilla (password), Unraid Filezilla (password), and from the command prompt on my Unraid server (ssh keys) into my seedbox.

Run the command 'rclone version' and share the full output of the command.

rclone v1.69.1
- os/version: slackware 15.0+ (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 6.6.68-Unraid (x86_64)
- os/type: linux
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.24.0
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: none

Which cloud storage system are you using? (eg Google Drive)

sftp

The command you were trying to run (eg rclone copy /tmp remote:tmp)

rclone copy seedbox:torrents/completed/ /mnt/user/data/torrents/ -vv

Please run 'rclone config redacted' and share the full output. If you get command not found, please make sure to update rclone.

[seedbox]
type = sftp
host = XXX
user = XXX
key_file = /root/.ssh/id_ed25519
shell_type = unix
md5sum_command = md5sum
sha1sum_command = sha1sum
key_use_agent = true

A log from the command that you were trying to run with the -vv flag

2025/02/23 13:34:18 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.69.1" starting with parameters ["rcloneorig" "--config" "/boot/config/plugins/rclone/.rclone.conf" "copy" "seedbox:torrents/completed" "/mnt/user/data/torrents" "-vv"]
2025/02/23 13:34:18 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "seedbox:torrents/completed"
2025/02/23 13:34:18 DEBUG : Using config file from "/boot/config/plugins/rclone/.rclone.conf"
2025/02/23 13:34:20 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: New connection local.ip.address:52040->seedbox.ip.address:22 to "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u3"
2025/02/23 13:34:20 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: Shell type "unix" from config
2025/02/23 13:34:20 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: Relative path resolved to "/home/username/torrents/completed"
2025/02/23 13:34:20 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: Using root directory "/home/username/torrents/completed"
2025/02/23 13:34:20 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "/mnt/user/data/torrents"
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : Added delayed dir = "Many entries for folder name from directory on seedbox"
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 200ms
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 400ms
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:21 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 800ms
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 2/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 1.6s
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: New connection local.ip.address:52066->seedbox.ip.address:22 to "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u3"
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: New connection local.ip.address:52066->seedbox.ip.address:22 to "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u3"
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: New connection local.ip.address:52066->seedbox.ip.address:22 to "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u3"
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : sftp://username@seedbox.host.name:22/torrents/completed: New connection local.ip.address:52066->seedbox.ip.address:22 to "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_8.4p1 Debian-5+deb11u3"
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: Reducing sleep to 1.2s
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 2/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 2s
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: Reducing sleep to 1.5s
2025/02/23 13:34:22 DEBUG : pacer: Reducing sleep to 1.125s
2025/02/23 13:34:23 DEBUG : pacer: Reducing sleep to 843.75ms
2025/02/23 13:34:24 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 2/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:24 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 1.6875s
2025/02/23 13:34:24 DEBUG : multiple_directory/multiple_file.ext: Unchanged skipping
2025/02/23 13:34:25 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 3/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:25 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 2s
2025/02/23 13:34:27 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 3/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 3/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: disabling buffering because destination uses OpenWriterAt
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: write buffer set to 131072
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: using backend concurrency of 4 instead of --multi-thread-streams 4
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: Starting multi-thread copy with 22 chunks of size 64Mi with 4 parallel streams
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 3/22 (134217728-201326592) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 2/22 (67108864-134217728) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 1/22 (0-67108864) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: write buffer set to 131072
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: using backend concurrency of 4 instead of --multi-thread-streams 4
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: Starting multi-thread copy with 22 chunks of size 64Mi with 4 parallel streams
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 1/22 (0-67108864) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 2/22 (67108864-134217728) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 3/22 (134217728-201326592) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: write buffer set to 131072
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: using backend concurrency of 4 instead of --multi-thread-streams 4
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: Starting multi-thread copy with 22 chunks of size 64Mi with 4 parallel streams
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 1/22 (0-67108864) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 3/22 (134217728-201326592) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 2/22 (67108864-134217728) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: write buffer set to 131072
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: using backend concurrency of 4 instead of --multi-thread-streams 4
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: Starting multi-thread copy with 22 chunks of size 64Mi with 4 parallel streams
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 2/22 (67108864-134217728) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 1/22 (0-67108864) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 3/22 (134217728-201326592) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.ed0b22ec.partial: writing chunk 3
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 2
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 1
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 3
2025/02/23 13:34:29 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 0
2025/02/23 13:34:31 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 4/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:33 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 4/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 4/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 1/22 (0-67108864) size 64Mi finished
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 3/22 (134217728-201326592) size 64Mi finished
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 2/22 (67108864-134217728) size 64Mi finished
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi finished
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 5/22 (268435456-335544320) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 6/22 (335544320-402653184) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:35 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 7/22 (402653184-469762048) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:36 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 5
2025/02/23 13:34:36 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 6
2025/02/23 13:34:36 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 8/22 (469762048-536870912) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:36 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 4
2025/02/23 13:34:36 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.d2c15b35.partial: writing chunk 7
2025/02/23 13:34:37 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:39 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:41 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 13:34:41 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 4/22 (201326592-268435456) size 64Mi finished
2025/02/23 13:34:41 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext: multi-thread copy: chunk 5/22 (268435456-335544320) size 64Mi starting
2025/02/23 13:34:41 DEBUG : directory/multiple_file.ext.ed0b22ec.partial: writing chunk 4
^Z
[1]+  Stopped
2

welcome to the forum,

the rclone log looks ok. maybe i am not understanding your issue?

is that required?

3

Honestly, I do not know. I've seen other forum posts in which key_use_agent = true was required. I have tried with and without this (removed completely, not changed to false) and it did not change the results.

5

I do not understand why I am receiving so many connection refused messages.

pacer: low level retry 4/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)

This message is not normal in my experience with any other rclone copy I've done on other systems.

6

cloud be the seedbox is throttling rclone and forcing a short cool down period for your entire account.

as a test, try --transfers=1 --checkers=1 --sftp-concurrency=1 --sftp-connections=3

7

Thank you. Edit: I confirmed that a normal ssh connection still works.
Command:

rclone copy seedbox:torrents/completed/ /mnt/user/data/torrents/ -vv --transfers=1 --checkers=1 --sftp-concurrency=1 --sftp-connections=3

Output:

2025/02/23 14:37:16 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.69.1" starting with parameters ["rcloneorig" "--config" "/boot/config/plugins/rclone/.rclone.conf" "copy" "seedbox:torrents/completed" "/mnt/user/data/torrents" "-vv" "--transfers=1" "--checkers=1" "--sftp-concurrency=1" "--sftp-connections=3"]
2025/02/23 14:37:16 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "seedbox:torrents/completed"
2025/02/23 14:37:16 DEBUG : Using config file from "/boot/config/plugins/rclone/.rclone.conf"
2025/02/23 14:37:16 DEBUG : seedbox: detected overridden config - adding "{yMunJ}" suffix to name
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 1/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 200ms
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 2/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 400ms
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 3/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:17 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 800ms
2025/02/23 14:37:18 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 4/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:18 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 1.6s
2025/02/23 14:37:18 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 5/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:18 DEBUG : pacer: Rate limited, increasing sleep to 2s
2025/02/23 14:37:20 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 6/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:22 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 7/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:24 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 8/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:26 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 9/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:28 DEBUG : pacer: low level retry 10/10 (error couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused)
2025/02/23 14:37:28 CRITICAL: Failed to create file system for "seedbox:torrents/completed": NewFs: couldn't connect SSH: dial tcp seedbox.ip.address:22: connect: connection refused
8

i would contact the seedbox's tech support

9

Thank you. I did that yesterday as a parallel effort. I'll report back on their input.

10

what is seebox company name?

11

seedbox.io or hostingby.design as they are now known.

12

yeah, i have been using them, since back when they were seedbox.io
normally, i download from seedbox.io to a hetzner vm.

and i am pretty sure, we have different account types. i am using shared, i assume that you are running inside a vm?
when i use sftp

  • i never receive connection refused
  • server is SSH-2.0-mod_sftp
  • must use a password, not a key
  • no support for checksums
  • ssh login.

i used to use sftp which was always slow.
years ago, i switched to webdav and get 75MiB/sec.

normally, i prefer sftp, as rclone can verify file transfers using checksum.
but, since my seedbox.io account, does not support checksums, i use webdav.