SCP Error The arguments to the scp command are invalid

[kathyange]

I am trying to scp from a Solaris 10 server running openssh 5.5p1 to window server with Vshell 3.6 installed. I receive this error message " The arguments to the scp command are invalid". However if I send a file from a solaris 10 server running openssl 4.4p1 to the same window server the file is successfully transferred. Can you tell me is there are any incompatibilities between Vshell 3.6 and openssh 5.5p1? In the below example of the failure you will see " Sending command: scp -v -p -t -- /ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/surya6.sa11 " the "--" seem to be the issue.


pkginfo -l openssh
PKGINST: openssh
NAME: openssh
CATEGORY: local
ARCH: sparc
VERSION: 5.5p1
VENDOR: The OpenSSH Group
PSTAMP: openssh.20100723.ljh
INSTDATE: Aug 12 2010 22:06
STATUS: completely installed
FILES: 37 installed pathnames
8 shared pathnames
11 directories
10 executables
1 setuid/setgid executables
3750 blocks used (approx)

$ telnet 10.193.11.27 22
Trying 10.193.11.27...
Connected to 10.193.11.27.
Escape character is '^]'.
SSH-2.0-VShell_3_6_0_380 VShell
^]
telnet> quit
Connection to 10.193.11.27 closed.

scp -vp /var/adm/sa/sa11 userid@10.193.11.27:"/ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/`uname -n`.sa11"
Executing: program /usr/local/bin/ssh host 10.193.11.27, user userid, command scp -v -p -t -- /ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/surya6.sa11
OpenSSH_5.5p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8o 01 Jun 2010
debug1: Reading configuration data /usr/local/etc/ssh_config
debug1: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to 10.193.11.27 [10.193.11.27] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version VShell_3_6_0_380 VShell
debug1: no match: VShell_3_6_0_380 VShell
debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.5
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none
debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY
debug1: Host '10.193.11.27' is known and matches the DSA host key.
debug1: Found key in /export/home/kange/.ssh/known_hosts:4
debug1: ssh_dss_verify: signature correct
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: Roaming not allowed by server
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
Notice and Warning

This computer system is the property of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is intended for authorized users only. By accessing and using this system you are consenting to system monitoring for law enforcement and other purposes. Unauthorized use of this computer system may subject you to State or Federal criminal prosecution and penalties.debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password,gssapi-with-mic
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Trying private key: /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_rsa
debug1: Trying private key: /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_dsa
debug1: read PEM private key done: type DSA
debug1: Authentication succeeded (publickey).
debug1: channel 0: new [client-session]
debug1: Entering interactive session.
debug1: Sending command: scp -v -p -t -- /ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/surya6.sa11
scp: 03707: The arguments to the scp command are invalid
debug1: channel 0: free: client-session, nchannels 1
debug1: fd 0 clearing O_NONBLOCK
debug1: fd 1 clearing O_NONBLOCK
Transferred: sent 1912, received 2112 bytes, in 0.0 seconds
Bytes per second: sent 72064.1, received 79602.2
debug1: Exit status -1

scp -vp /export/home/kange/surya5.sa11.txt yyvirssw01_sftpwr@10.193.11.27:/ng-v...urya5.sa11.txt
Executing: program /usr/local/bin/ssh host 10.193.11.27, user userid, command scp -v -p -t /ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/surya5.sa11.txt
OpenSSH_4.4p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8r 8 Feb 2011
debug1: Connecting to 10.193.11.27 [10.193.11.27] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/identity type -1
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
debug1: identity file /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_dsa type 2
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version VShell_3_6_0_380 VShell
debug1: no match: VShell_3_6_0_380 VShell
debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_4.4
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: server->client aes128-cbc hmac-md5 none
debug1: kex: client->server aes128-cbc hmac-md5 none
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REQUEST(1024<1024<8192) sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_GROUP
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_INIT sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_DH_GEX_REPLY
debug1: Host '10.193.11.27' is known and matches the DSA host key.
debug1: Found key in /export/home/kange/.ssh/known_hosts:5
debug1: ssh_dss_verify: signature correct
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
Notice and Warning

This computer system is the property of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is intended for authorized users only. By accessing and using this system you are consenting to system monitoring for law enforcement and other purposes. Unauthorized use of this computer system may subject you to State or Federal criminal prosecution and penalties.debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password,gssapi-with-mic
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Trying private key: /export/home/kange/.ssh/identity
debug1: Trying private key: /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_rsa
debug1: Offering public key: /export/home/kange/.ssh/id_dsa
debug1: Server accepts key: pkalg ssh-dss blen 433
debug1: read PEM private key done: type DSA
debug1: Authentication succeeded (publickey).
debug1: channel 0: new [client-session]
debug1: Entering interactive session.
debug1: Sending command: scp -v -p -t /ng-virssw01-external/DSSResourceMetrics/surya5.sa11.txt
Sending file modes: C0640 238440 surya5.sa11.txt
surya5.sa11.txt 100% 233KB 232.9KB/s 00:00
debug1: client_input_channel_req: channel 0 rtype exit-status reply 0
debug1: channel 0: free: client-session, nchannels 1
debug1: fd 0 clearing O_NONBLOCK
debug1: fd 1 clearing O_NONBLOCK
debug1: Transferred: stdin 0, stdout 0, stderr 0 bytes in 5.3 seconds
debug1: Bytes per second: stdin 0.0, stdout 0.0, stderr 0.0
debug1: Exit status 0

[rtb]

Hi kathyange,

Thanks for the question.

The issue is indeed with the new parameter that OpenSSH version 5.4 scp client (and newer) is sending.

VShell 3.6.5 and newer can parse the new parameter. You can download VShell 3.6.6 from the following location:

http://www.vandyke.com/download/vshell/3.6/index.html

Does upgrading to VShell 3.6.6 resolve the issue?