Offending key for IP in /home/username/.ssh/known_hosts:NUMBER

This issue has haunted me for years and yet it is so easy to fix.

Issue:

Offending key for IP in /home/<USERNAME>/.ssh/known_hosts:<NUMBER>
Matching host key in /home/<USERNAME>/.ssh/known_hosts:<ANOTHER_NUMBER>

Description

The problem lies in that there are 2 keys for the host you are trying to reach.  One key is old and one is good.

Solution

• Edit the /home/<USERNAME>/.ssh/known_hosts file
• Delete line number <NUMBER> (the line with the old key) from the file.
• Save

That’s it!