Fix "ssh_init: host does not exist" in FileZilla – Use IP Address Instead of Hostname

Table of Contents: Introduction & Root Cause 1. Get Your Server's IP Address 2. Use the IP in FileZilla (Primary Fix) 3. Permanently Fix DNS (Edit Hosts File) 4. Flush DNS Cache to Apply Changes Summary of Fixes

FileZilla showing ssh_init host does not exist error

The "ssh_init: host does not exist" error in FileZilla occurs when the hostname cannot be resolved to an IP address. This is typically due to:

DNS resolution failure (incorrect or missing DNS records)
Network issues (blocked SSH/FTP ports)
Wrong hostname in FileZilla settings

To bypass DNS issues, you can connect using the server’s IP address instead of the hostname.

1. Get the IP Address of Your Server

If you don’t know your server’s IP address, retrieve it from your hosting provider's control panel or use the command line.

Find IP Address from Command Line

On Windows (Command Prompt):

nslookup yourserver.com

On Linux/macOS (Terminal):

dig yourserver.com +short

host yourserver.com

Example Output:

192.168.1.10

Use this IP instead of the hostname in FileZilla.

2. Use the IP Address in FileZilla (Primary Fix)

This is the most direct solution to immediately bypass DNS resolution problems.

Open FileZilla.
Click File > Site Manager.
Select your FTP/SFTP connection.
Change the Hostname:
- Instead of yourserver.com, enter 192.168.1.10 (your actual server IP).
Click "Connect".

If the connection succeeds, DNS was the issue. For a permanent fix that lets you use the hostname again, proceed to the next step.

3. Save the IP in Hosts File (Fix DNS for Future Use)

If you prefer to use the hostname, but DNS isn’t resolving, you can manually map it to the correct IP address on your local computer.

For Linux/macOS

Open the terminal and edit the hosts file:
```
sudo nano /etc/hosts
```
Add this line at the end of the file:
```
192.168.1.10 yourserver.com
```
Save (Ctrl+O) and exit (Ctrl+X).

For Windows

Open Notepad as Administrator (Right-click Notepad > Run as administrator).
Click File > Open and navigate to:
```
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
```
(Select "All Files" in the file type dropdown).
Add this line at the end of the file:
```
192.168.1.10 yourserver.com
```
Save the file and restart FileZilla.

Now, you should be able to use the hostname in FileZilla without issues.

4. Flush DNS Cache to Apply Changes

If you updated your hosts file or DNS settings, clear your system's DNS cache to ensure it uses the new information immediately.

Windows:

ipconfig /flushdns

macOS:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Linux (systemd-based):

sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

After running the command, restart FileZilla and try connecting again.

Summary of Fixes

Issue	Fix
Hostname not resolving (ssh_init: host does not exist)	Use server IP instead of hostname in FileZilla
Incorrect FileZilla settings	Change "Host" field to the correct IP address
DNS not resolving	Test with `nslookup` or `dig`
Manually set hostname resolution	Add entry to `/etc/hosts` or `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts`
Old DNS cache causing issues	Flush DNS with `ipconfig /flushdns` or `systemd-resolve --flush-caches`

By following these steps, FileZilla should connect without the "ssh_init: host does not exist" error!

Fix "ssh_init: host does not exist" in FileZilla – Use IP Address Instead of Hostname

1. Get the IP Address of Your Server

Find IP Address from Command Line

2. Use the IP Address in FileZilla (Primary Fix)

3. Save the IP in Hosts File (Fix DNS for Future Use)

For Linux/macOS

For Windows

4. Flush DNS Cache to Apply Changes

Summary of Fixes

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Fix "ssh_init: host does not exist" in FileZilla – Use IP Address Instead of Hostname

1. Get the IP Address of Your Server

Find IP Address from Command Line

2. Use the IP Address in FileZilla (Primary Fix)

3. Save the IP in Hosts File (Fix DNS for Future Use)

For Linux/macOS

For Windows

4. Flush DNS Cache to Apply Changes

Summary of Fixes

High-Availability Cloud VDS

Hosting

Cloud Solution

For You

VDS

Website Builders

Our services

Client Area

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