When connecting to my Linode's virtual console, there is always a 5 - 10 second delay before I get to the login prompt. I noticed after disconnecting from the screen session the following message:

/usr/X11R6/bin/xauth: timeout in locking authority file /linodes/bji/.Xauthority

I'm not sure exactly why the login session is running xauth; maybe it's because X11 forwarding is turned on in the ssh session on the host? In any case, is there some way to eliminate this timeout? Thanks!

Use the -x option for ssh:

ssh -x -l your_login_id yourhost.linode.com

This will stop ssh from trying to establish X forwarding and authorization.

Note that -x (lower case), not -X (upper case).

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Bus error (passengers dumped)

I just changed sshd_config on all the hosts. X11 forwarding and TCP forwarding (ahem) are off. The host login is probably performing a DNS lookup on your address, that might cause a little delay. But in general, its no more than a few seconds at worst for me.

-Chris

Never thought of trying that...

Hm, that's odd, I'm still getting the xauth timeout. But the -x option to ssh did the trick.

Glad that at the very least I helped you find the TCP forwarding issue ...