Replication fails with the following error message "WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED……Add correct host key in /root/.ssh/known_hosts to get rid of this message. Offending key in /root/.ssh/known_hosts"
This will occur whenever the RSA key for one of the hosts changes, such as after an ESX upgrade.
This can be resolved by removing the known_hosts files from the affected hosts, the instructions for doing this are below.
1. Connect to both ESX hosts involved with the replication with an SSH client such as PuTTY and perform the steps below.
2. Become root by typing su – and provide the root password when prompted.
3. Change to the .ssh directory by typing cd /root/.ssh.
4. List out the contents of the directory by typing ls –lah. You should see a file called known_hosts.
5. To delete the known_hosts file type rm ~/.ssh/known_hosts. When prompted type y and hit the enter key, this will remove the known_hosts file.
6. Once you have done this on each ESX host establish an SSH connection to the other host by typing ssh <IP or FQDN of ESX host>.
7. You will see the following message appear “The authenticity of host 'vc-esx35-xxxxx (10.x.x.x)' can't be established.RSA key fingerprint is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx. Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?” At this point type in “yes” and hit enter.
8. This will need to be done in both directions, that is to say, you will need to connect to the source host and SSH to the target host and then connect to the target host and SSH back to the source host. Continue by connecting via SSH between all of the hosts in the environment and answering yes each time the message from step 7 appears.
