Fixing SSH GNS3 Docker Ubuntu/Network Automation Appliance

ssh_fix_gns3.txt

Using GNS3 2.2.26 on a Kubuntu Linux host, I discovered that the Network Automation appliance (which is an extremely slimmed-down Docker container of Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS) does not allow SSH out of the gate.

To fix this, I did the following:

- Ensure the device is reachable (assign a static IP)
- Install SSH (apt install openssh-client openssh-server)
- Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file and 
	1) un-comment the line 'ListenAddress 0.0.0.0'
	2) Search for "PermitRootLogin" and change from "PermitRootLogin prohibit-password" to "PermitRootLogin yes"
		a. CAVEAT - This is NOT SECURE, obviously, but given this is a sandboxed/lab environment with no critical services running, it should be OK. This should *never* be done in a production environment, ever ever ever ever ever!!!
- List all running services: service --status-all
- Set a user password (since one doesn't already exist): passwd <password for root user account>
- Start the SSH service (which doesn't start automatically for some reason??): service ssh start
- Test SSH: ssh localhost
- Set a password/create user accounts/groups as necessary
- Once ready, test from host machine: ssh user@ip_of_network_automation_appliance