Error decoding SFTP packet

I am running winScp verion 4.3.2 Build 1201 on Windows XP service pack 3

I am attempting the connect to a SFTP server but I get the error message

"Error decoding SFTP packet (111, 4, 111).
Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?"

I tried connecting to the SFTP site using Filezilla version 3.4.0 and was sucessful.

I am including the log from my connection attempt. Please help?

. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 WinSCP Version 4.3.2 (Build 1201) (OS 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3)
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Login time: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 10:58:51 AM
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Session name: HMK-Cigna
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Host name: sftp-b2bgateway.sys.cigna.com (Port: 22)
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 User name: cig_healthm (Password: Yes, Key file: No)
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Tunnel: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Transfer Protocol: SFTP (SCP)
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Ping type: -, Ping interval: 30 sec; Timeout: 15 sec
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Proxy: none
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 SSH protocol version: 2; Compression: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Bypass authentication: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Try agent: Yes; Agent forwarding: No; TIS/CryptoCard: No; KI: Yes; GSSAPI: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Ciphers: aes,blowfish,3des,WARN,arcfour,des; Ssh2DES: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 SSH Bugs: -,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 SFTP Bugs: -,-
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Return code variable: Autodetect; Lookup user groups: Yes
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Shell: default
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 EOL: 0, UTF: 2
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Clear aliases: Yes, Unset nat.vars: Yes, Resolve symlinks: Yes
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 LS: ls -la, Ign LS warn: Yes, Scp1 Comp: No
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Local directory: default, Remote directory: home, Update: No, Cache: Yes
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 Cache directory changes: Yes, Permanent: Yes
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 DST mode: 1
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.638 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.669 Looking up host "sftp-b2bgateway.sys.cigna.com"
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.669 Connecting to 208.242.14.253 port 22
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.747 Server version: SSH-2.0-CIGNA SFTP Server Ready!
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.747 We believe remote version has SSH-2 ignore bug
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.747 Using SSH protocol version 2
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.747 We claim version: SSH-2.0-WinSCP_release_4.3.2
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.794 Doing Diffie-Hellman group exchange
. 2011-05-25 10:58:51.903 Doing Diffie-Hellman key exchange with hash SHA-1
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 Host key fingerprint is:
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 ssh-rsa 1024 02:a4:e9:3d:21:be:0d:c9:71:c5:6d:72:43:b3:e2:05
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 Initialised AES-256 CBC client->server encryption
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 client->server MAC algorithm
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 Initialised AES-256 CBC server->client encryption
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.107 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 server->client MAC algorithm
! 2011-05-25 10:58:52.294 Using username "cig_healthm".
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.356 Prompt (6, SSH password, , &Password: )
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.356 Using stored password.
. 2011-05-25 10:58:52.356 Sent password
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.013 Access granted
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.075 Opened channel for session
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.794 Started a shell/command
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.809 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.809 Using SFTP protocol.
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.809 Doing startup conversation with host.
> 2011-05-25 10:58:53.809 Type: SSH_FXP_INIT, Size: 5, Number: -1
< 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 111, Number: 0
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Attempt to close connection due to fatal exception:
* 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?
* 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 (Exception) Error decoding SFTP packet (111, 4, 111).
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Closing connection.
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Sending special code: 12
. 2011-05-25 10:58:53.888 Sent EOF message
* 2011-05-25 10:58:53.903 (ESshFatal) Error decoding SFTP packet (111, 4, 111).
* 2011-05-25 10:58:53.903 Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.918 Looking up host "sftp-b2bgateway.sys.cigna.com"
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.918 Connecting to 208.242.14.253 port 22
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.996 Server version: SSH-2.0-CIGNA SFTP Server Ready!
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.996 We believe remote version has SSH-2 ignore bug
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.996 Using SSH protocol version 2
. 2011-05-25 10:58:58.996 We claim version: SSH-2.0-WinSCP_release_4.3.2
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.043 Doing Diffie-Hellman group exchange
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.153 Doing Diffie-Hellman key exchange with hash SHA-1
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 Host key fingerprint is:
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 ssh-rsa 1024 02:a4:e9:3d:21:be:0d:c9:71:c5:6d:72:43:b3:e2:05
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 Initialised AES-256 CBC client->server encryption
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 client->server MAC algorithm
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 Initialised AES-256 CBC server->client encryption
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.356 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 server->client MAC algorithm
! 2011-05-25 10:58:59.543 Using username "cig_healthm".
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.637 Prompt (6, SSH password, , &Password: )
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.637 Using stored password.
. 2011-05-25 10:58:59.637 Sent password
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.121 Access granted
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.184 Opened channel for session
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.684 Started a shell/command
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.699 Doing startup conversation with host.
> 2011-05-25 10:59:00.699 Type: SSH_FXP_INIT, Size: 5, Number: -1
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.762 Server sent command exit status 0
. 2011-05-25 10:59:00.762 Disconnected: All channels closed
* 2011-05-25 10:59:00.777 (ESshFatal) Connection has been unexpectedly closed. Server sent command exit status 0.
* 2011-05-25 10:59:00.777 Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?

May I have a test account on your server?

If not, can you enable Debug 1 level logging and email me the log file?

Please post a full log file showing the problem.

martin wrote:

May I have a test account on your server?

If not, can you enable Debug 1 level logging and email me the log file?

Please post a full log file showing the problem.

You will find my address (if you log in) in my forum profile. Please include link back to this topic in your email. Also note in this topic that you have emailed the log.

Please see full log file below

. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.542 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.542 WinSCP Version 4.3.3 (Build 1340) (OS 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Configuration: C:\Program Files\WinSCP\WinSCP.ini
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Login time: Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:54:49 AM
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Session name: HMK-Cigna (Modified stored session)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Host name: sftp-b2bgateway.sys.cigna.com (Port: 22)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 User name: cig_healthm (Password: Yes, Key file: No)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Tunnel: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Transfer Protocol: SFTP (SCP)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Ping type: -, Ping interval: 30 sec; Timeout: 15 sec
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Proxy: none
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 SSH protocol version: 2; Compression: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Bypass authentication: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Try agent: Yes; Agent forwarding: No; TIS/CryptoCard: No; KI: Yes; GSSAPI: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Ciphers: aes,blowfish,3des,WARN,arcfour,des; Ssh2DES: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 SSH Bugs: -,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 SFTP Bugs: -,-
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Return code variable: Autodetect; Lookup user groups: Yes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Shell: default
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 EOL: 0, UTF: 2
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Clear aliases: Yes, Unset nat.vars: Yes, Resolve symlinks: Yes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 LS: ls -la, Ign LS warn: Yes, Scp1 Comp: No
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Local directory: default, Remote directory: home, Update: No, Cache: Yes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 Cache directory changes: Yes, Permanent: Yes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 DST mode: 1
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.557 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.588 Looking up host "sftp-b2bgateway.sys.cigna.com"
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.604 Connecting to 208.242.14.253 port 22
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.635 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.635 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 Server version: SSH-2.0-CIGNA SFTP Server Ready!
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 We believe remote version has SSH-2 ignore bug
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 Using SSH protocol version 2
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 We claim version: SSH-2.0-WinSCP_release_4.3.3
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.682 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.714 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.714 Doing Diffie-Hellman group exchange
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.714 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.823 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.823 Doing Diffie-Hellman key exchange with hash SHA-1
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.854 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.948 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Host key fingerprint is:
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 ssh-rsa 1024 02:a4:e9:3d:21:be:0d:c9:71:c5:6d:72:43:b3:e2:05
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Initialised AES-256 CBC client->server encryption
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 client->server MAC algorithm
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Initialised AES-256 CBC server->client encryption
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Initialised HMAC-SHA1 server->client MAC algorithm
. 2011-05-26 10:54:49.979 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.167 Detected network event
! 2011-05-26 10:54:50.167 Using username "cig_healthm".
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.167 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.198 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.214 Prompt (7, SSH password, , &Password: )
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.214 Using stored password.
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.214 Sent password
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.214 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.683 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.683 Access granted
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.683 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.714 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.714 Opened channel for session
. 2011-05-26 10:54:50.714 Waiting for the server to continue with the initialisation
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.277 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.277 Started a shell/command
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 Using SFTP protocol.
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 Doing startup conversation with host.
> 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 Type: SSH_FXP_INIT, Size: 5, Number: -1
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 Sent 9 bytes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 There are 0 bytes remaining in the send buffer
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.292 Waiting for another 4 bytes
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Detected network event
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Received 115 bytes (0)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Server sent command exit status 0
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Read 4 bytes (111 pending)
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Read 111 bytes (0 pending)
< 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Type: SSH_FXP_STATUS, Size: 111, Number: 0
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Attempt to close connection due to fatal exception:
* 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?
* 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 (Exception) Error decoding SFTP packet (111, 4, 111).
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Closing connection.
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Sending special code: 12
. 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Sent EOF message
* 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 (ESshFatal) Error decoding SFTP packet (111, 4, 111).
* 2011-05-26 10:54:51.355 Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?

I'm sorry, I've meant Debug level 2 log. You should better email it.

martin wrote:

I'm sorry, I've meant Debug level 2 log. You should better email it.

I have emailed the log you requested

Sbenn wrote:

martin wrote:

I'm sorry, I've meant Debug level 2 log. You should better email it.

I have emailed the log you requested

I have found a work around to the issue. I changed the Preferred SFTP protocol version from 5 to 4 and resolved my problem.

For details about error message "Cannot initialize SFTP protocol. Is the host running a SFTP server?" see:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/message_cannot_initialize_sftp_protocol