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Cannot expand Subversion repository tree over SSH: Missing host fingerprint in known_hosts

Ivan Pajic
Updated

Problem

After a fresh IntelliJ IDEA installation, configuring a remote Subversion repository over SSH causes the repository tree to load indefinitely with no error in the UI. The IDE log shows a java.lang.Throwable: toolbar creation trace warning, but no SSH timeout, no fingerprint confirmation prompt, and no actionable error.

Reproducing conditions:

  1. Install IntelliJ IDEA on a machine where it has not been used before.
  2. Configure the SSH private key in File | Settings | Version Control | Subversion | SSH.
  3. Configure the repository in the Clone Repository dialog under Version Control: Subversion.
  4. Expand the repository tree.

The tree shows the loading indicator indefinitely.

Cause

The SVN-over-SSH connection requires the remote host's fingerprint to be present in the SSH known_hosts file. On a fresh setup this entry does not exist yet, and the SSH client does not surface the host fingerprint confirmation prompt in the IntelliJ IDEA UI, so the connection blocks silently.

The Enable interactive mode option under File | Settings | Version Control | Subversion does not surface the prompt in this state.

Resolution

Add the SVN server's SSH host fingerprint to known_hosts by running the SSH command from a terminal once and accepting the fingerprint prompt:

  1. Locate the SSH command IntelliJ IDEA issued for the SVN connection in the IDE log (idea.log, accessible via Help | Show Log in Explorer on Windows or Help | Show Log in Finder on macOS/Linux). The command appears near the failing SVN operation and references the configured private key and remote host.
  2. Open a system terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and run the same SSH command manually.
  3. When prompted with The authenticity of host '<host>' can't be established. ... Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?, type yes and press Enter.
  4. SSH appends the host fingerprint to the known_hosts file (C:\Users\user\.ssh\known_hosts on Windows, ~/.ssh/known_hosts on macOS/Linux).
  5. Return to IntelliJ IDEA and expand the Subversion repository tree. The connection proceeds.

If the SSH command is not visible in the log, enable debug logging via Help | Diagnostic Tools | Debug Log Settings... and add:

org.jetbrains.idea.svn
com.intellij.util.io.HttpRequests
com.intellij.util.proxy.CommonProxy
com.intellij.ssh

Restart the IDE, reproduce the issue, and inspect the logs collected via Help | Collect Logs and Diagnostic Data.

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