'crm cluster start' fails when permitrootlogin is set to 'no'

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5

Situation

If permitrootlogin is set to 'no' in the sshd_config as a security hardening configuration, 'crm cluster start' doesn't start the cluster and the following error can be seen:

# sudo crm cluster start
ERROR: cluster.start: Can not create ssh session from <node_a> to <node_a>

The same happens with 'sudo su - crm cluster start'.
When permitrootlogin is set to 'yes' the cluster will start.

Resolution

As a workaround pacemaker can be started via systemd and then the crm command works.

The crmsh update released December/2023 (crmsh-4.5.0+20231128.4c7bd70-150500.3.16.1) contains the patch to resolve the problem.

Cause

'crm cluster start' runs commands with ssh even on localhost and when ssh login is disabled for root, the cluster won't start.

Disclaimer

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