paperclipai/paperclip · error

Failed to start SSH env-lab fixture.

Error message

Failed to start SSH env-lab fixture.

What it means

Error "Failed to start SSH env-lab fixture." thrown in paperclipai/paperclip.

Source

Thrown at packages/adapter-utils/src/ssh.ts:1846

    port,
    username,
    rootDir,
    workspaceDir,
    statePath: input.statePath,
    pid: child.pid ?? 0,
    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
    clientPrivateKeyPath,
    clientPublicKeyPath,
    hostPrivateKeyPath,
    hostPublicKeyPath,
    authorizedKeysPath,
    knownHostsPath,
    sshdConfigPath,
    sshdLogPath,
  };

  if (!state.pid) {
    throw new Error("Failed to start SSH env-lab fixture.");
  }

  try {
    await waitForCondition(async () => {
      if (!(await isPidRunning(state.pid))) {
        const logOutput = await fs.readFile(sshdLogPath, "utf8").catch(() => "");
        throw new Error(logOutput || "SSH env-lab fixture exited before becoming ready.");
      }
      const config = await buildSshEnvLabFixtureConfig(state);
      await ensureSshWorkspaceReady(config);
    }, { timeoutMs: 10_000, intervalMs: 250 });
    await fs.writeFile(input.statePath, JSON.stringify(state, null, 2), { mode: 0o600 });
    return state;
  } catch (error) {
    if (await isPidRunning(state.pid)) {
      process.kill(state.pid, "SIGTERM");
    }
    await fs.rm(rootDir, { recursive: true, force: true }).catch(() => undefined);

View on GitHub (pinned to 120ae5428f)

Solutions

1. Check fixture logs, port availability, and sshd config, then retry starting the fixture.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at packages/adapter-utils/src/ssh.ts:1846 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@120ae5428f (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/1d0a03c3f389b84c. Report an issue: GitHub.