Xamarin Mac Pairing

Question

Xamarin Mac Pairing

Hans Germann 1

Unable to pair Mac. Stuck at: Checking SSH configuration. None of the suggestions Googled seem to work.
VS2019 in Windows 11
macOS Venture 13.0 , Xcode 14.1, Visual Studio 2019 for Mac

Any help will be much appreciated.

Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-21T03:08:44.633+00:00

Hi @Hans Germann , Could you please provide the detailed SSH configuration error message and the detailed VS version? As noted in the Q&A FAQ: How to write a quality question

In addition, Xcode 14.1 is not supported yet, you could try to go back to Xcode 14.0 and the latest VS2022, then check if it works, refer to Xcode 14.1 Support #16659
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-25T02:15:18.317+00:00

May I know whether your issue has been solved or not? If not, please share it in here. We can work together to figure it out.
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-25T17:15:00.227+00:00

Thank you for your response.

This issue has not been resolved.

I just recently updated to Xcode 14.1 and I had the same problem in previous versions.

The Error message appeared when I tried to pair with the Mac in VS2019, but since then I have tried many different solutions and the issue has changed. I now get the message "Couldn't retrieve SSH Fingerprint" ..
See enclosed file

264332-trying-to-use-xamarin-to-pair-with-my-mac-mini.pdf

It appears that the source of the problem is the configuration setting on the Mac 264295-ssh-config.txt
which I have also attached.

I have tried to get help from Apple, but so far have not received any response. It appears not many people at Apple are familiar with Xamarin.
Any help or suggestion that you can provide will be appreciated.

Thank you
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-28T02:58:57.213+00:00
You could try the following solution and tell me the result and feel free to post here if you meet other issues:

Update VS to 2022 and try Xcode 14(not 14.1, download Xcode 14.0 from the downloads page in the Apple Developer Portal). Then open Xcode and go to Xcode->Preferences->Location->Command Line Tools and select 14.0.

Clear the Broker, IDB, Build, and Designer Agents on the Mac.

Check that your firewall allows and ping the IP on your Windows machine, and check if the Mac is routable from the Windows computer.

Delete the configuration file of your Mac and reboot your Mac, please see the 8-12 steps in the following doc- Connection Troubleshooting for a Xamarin.iOS Build Host - Xamarin | Microsoft Learn
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-28T03:08:42.54+00:00

There is security information such as IP and other configuration settings in the file. I have edited the comment, please be careful to post the security information.
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-28T19:10:35.54+00:00

Thanks again for your reply. I followed the instructions as per your last email without making any progress. I am able to ping the mac from the PC but when I try to perform an SSH either via the Command Line or via PuTTy I receive and error. See attached file.

The only step that I'm not sure of is step 4. in your instructions. (4. Delete the configuration file of your Mac and reboot your Mac). I assume you meant the file at /etc/ssh/ssh_config I renamed it to something else.

Please let me know what else I can try?

Hans
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-29T02:23:54.547+00:00

You can refer to the Troubleshooting Remote Login Doc and check the step1-12. Currently, you meet the step 8 fails scenario, you can try to run the command ( ssh localhost) in Terminal on the Mac to see if the SSH server is accepting any connections. My previous suggestion is the Step 11 in the Doc: deleting the configuration file (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist) and rebooting the computer can help restore the default behavior. One way to delete the file is to enter /Library/Preferences under Go > Go to Folder in Finder, and then move the com.apple.alf.plist file to the Trash.
You also should check the step3 : Check that your firewall allows incoming connections through port 22
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-29T16:37:37.993+00:00

Mr. WenyanZhang, thank you again for your reply. I have gone through the "Troubleshooting Remote Login Doc" step by step and documented the result in the attached documentation. [265269-sshsteps.pdf][1]
Based on this Doc (Step 12) it implied that SSH was not running, I therefore entered "sudo systemsetup -seteemotelogin on" and got the response that remote login is already on.

Please advise what further steps I can take. Also, please be aware that you are welcome to remotely access both the Mac and the PC at any time that is convenient for you.

Thanks for your assistance
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-12-01T02:46:17.14+00:00

For your problem, it's recommended that you report it in VS, see Report a problem with Visual Studio - Visual Studio (Windows) | Microsoft Learn
In addition, I can't remotely access your machine due to the policy. You can open a support ticket for this. Please contact our paid phone support at MS Support. You will get 1:1 support on that.
(There is security information such as IP and other configuration settings in the file. I will edit the comment, please be careful to post the security information.)

Your answer

Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-21T03:08:44.633+00:00

Hi @Hans Germann , Could you please provide the detailed SSH configuration error message and the detailed VS version? As noted in the Q&A FAQ: How to write a quality question

In addition, Xcode 14.1 is not supported yet, you could try to go back to Xcode 14.0 and the latest VS2022, then check if it works, refer to Xcode 14.1 Support #16659
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-25T02:15:18.317+00:00

May I know whether your issue has been solved or not? If not, please share it in here. We can work together to figure it out.
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-25T17:15:00.227+00:00

Thank you for your response.

This issue has not been resolved.

I just recently updated to Xcode 14.1 and I had the same problem in previous versions.

The Error message appeared when I tried to pair with the Mac in VS2019, but since then I have tried many different solutions and the issue has changed. I now get the message "Couldn't retrieve SSH Fingerprint" ..
See enclosed file

264332-trying-to-use-xamarin-to-pair-with-my-mac-mini.pdf

It appears that the source of the problem is the configuration setting on the Mac 264295-ssh-config.txt
which I have also attached.

I have tried to get help from Apple, but so far have not received any response. It appears not many people at Apple are familiar with Xamarin.
Any help or suggestion that you can provide will be appreciated.

Thank you
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-28T02:58:57.213+00:00

You could try the following solution and tell me the result and feel free to post here if you meet other issues:

Update VS to 2022 and try Xcode 14(not 14.1, download Xcode 14.0 from the downloads page in the Apple Developer Portal). Then open Xcode and go to Xcode->Preferences->Location->Command Line Tools and select 14.0.

Clear the Broker, IDB, Build, and Designer Agents on the Mac.

Check that your firewall allows and ping the IP on your Windows machine, and check if the Mac is routable from the Windows computer.

Delete the configuration file of your Mac and reboot your Mac, please see the 8-12 steps in the following doc- Connection Troubleshooting for a Xamarin.iOS Build Host - Xamarin | Microsoft Learn
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-28T03:08:42.54+00:00

There is security information such as IP and other configuration settings in the file. I have edited the comment, please be careful to post the security information.
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-28T19:10:35.54+00:00

Thanks again for your reply. I followed the instructions as per your last email without making any progress. I am able to ping the mac from the PC but when I try to perform an SSH either via the Command Line or via PuTTy I receive and error. See attached file.

The only step that I'm not sure of is step 4. in your instructions. (4. Delete the configuration file of your Mac and reboot your Mac). I assume you meant the file at /etc/ssh/ssh_config I renamed it to something else.

Please let me know what else I can try?

Hans
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-11-29T02:23:54.547+00:00

You can refer to the Troubleshooting Remote Login Doc and check the step1-12. Currently, you meet the step 8 fails scenario, you can try to run the command ( ssh localhost) in Terminal on the Mac to see if the SSH server is accepting any connections. My previous suggestion is the Step 11 in the Doc: deleting the configuration file (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist) and rebooting the computer can help restore the default behavior. One way to delete the file is to enter /Library/Preferences under Go > Go to Folder in Finder, and then move the com.apple.alf.plist file to the Trash.
You also should check the step3 : Check that your firewall allows incoming connections through port 22
Hans Germann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-29T16:37:37.993+00:00

Mr. WenyanZhang, thank you again for your reply. I have gone through the "Troubleshooting Remote Login Doc" step by step and documented the result in the attached documentation. [265269-sshsteps.pdf][1]
Based on this Doc (Step 12) it implied that SSH was not running, I therefore entered "sudo systemsetup -seteemotelogin on" and got the response that remote login is already on.

Please advise what further steps I can take. Also, please be aware that you are welcome to remotely access both the Mac and the PC at any time that is convenient for you.

Thanks for your assistance
Wenyan Zhang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) 36,451 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-12-01T02:46:17.14+00:00

For your problem, it's recommended that you report it in VS, see Report a problem with Visual Studio - Visual Studio (Windows) | Microsoft Learn
In addition, I can't remotely access your machine due to the policy. You can open a support ticket for this. Please contact our paid phone support at MS Support. You will get 1:1 support on that.
(There is security information such as IP and other configuration settings in the file. I will edit the comment, please be careful to post the security information.)

Share via

Xamarin Mac Pairing

Your answer