SSH fails to start in unattended setup

[blissdev]

OS: 15.7.3 (24G419)

Command:

lume create sandbox-vm --os macos --ipsw ~/Downloads/macos.ipsw --unattended sequoia

Result (starting with initial failures):

[2026-02-08T00:56:29Z] DEBUG: Capturing framebuffer via VNC protocol
[2026-02-08T00:56:29Z] DEBUG: VNCClient.captureFramebuffer: requesting framebuffer height=768 width=1024
[2026-02-08T00:56:29Z] DEBUG: VNC framebuffer capture succeeded height=768 width=1024
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] INFO: Clicking on text captured=1024x768 text=Remote Login display=1024x768 xOffset=0 yOffset=0 vncPoint=(237, 573) capturedPoint=(237, 573)
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] DEBUG: Sending mouse click via VNC client x=237 y=573 button=1
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC pointer event y=573 x=237 buttonMask=0
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC pointer event x=237 y=573 buttonMask=1
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC pointer event y=573 buttonMask=0 x=237
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] DEBUG: Mouse click sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:56:30Z] INFO: Executing boot command command=delay 20.0s index=149/159
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] INFO: Executing boot command command=press <space> index=150/159
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] DEBUG: Sending key press via VNC client keysym=0x20 keyCode=49 modifiers=0
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0x20 down=true
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0x20 down=false
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] DEBUG: Key press sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:56:51Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=151/159 command=delay 5.0s
[2026-02-08T00:56:52Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:53Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:56:54Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:56Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=152/159 command=press <tab>
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] DEBUG: Sending key press via VNC client keyCode=48 modifiers=0 keysym=0xff09
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0xff09 down=true
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event down=false key=0xff09
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] DEBUG: Key press sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:56:57Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=153/159 command=delay 5.0s
[2026-02-08T00:56:58Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:56:59Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:00Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:02Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] INFO: Executing boot command command=press <space> index=154/159
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] DEBUG: Sending key press via VNC client keyCode=49 keysym=0x20 modifiers=0
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event down=true key=0x20
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event down=false key=0x20
[2026-02-08T00:57:03Z] DEBUG: Key press sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:57:04Z] INFO: Executing boot command command=delay 5.0s index=155/159
[2026-02-08T00:57:04Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:05Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:06Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:08Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=156/159 command=press <enter>
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] DEBUG: Sending key press via VNC client modifiers=0 keyCode=36 keysym=0xff0d
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0xff0d down=true
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event down=false key=0xff0d
[2026-02-08T00:57:09Z] DEBUG: Key press sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:57:10Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=157/159 command=delay 5.0s
[2026-02-08T00:57:10Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:11Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:13Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:14Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=158/159 command=hotkey <leftSuper+q>
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sending char with modifiers via VNC client char=q modifiers=8 keysym=0x71
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0xffe9 down=true
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0x71 down=true
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event down=false key=0x71
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sent VNC key event key=0xffe9 down=false
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Char with modifiers sent via VNC client
[2026-02-08T00:57:15Z] DEBUG: Sent hotkey char char=q modifiers=leftSuper
[2026-02-08T00:57:16Z] INFO: Executing boot command index=159/159 command=delay 1.0s
[2026-02-08T00:57:16Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] INFO: Unattended setup completed successfully
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] INFO: Running health check type=ssh
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] INFO: Running SSH health check host=192.168.64.7 timeout=30s retries=5 user=lume
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] DEBUG: VNC client disconnected
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] DEBUG: VNC client connection cancelled
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] INFO: SSH health check attempt attempt=1/5
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] DEBUG: SSH health check error attempt=1 error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] INFO: Waiting before retry delay=10s
[2026-02-08T00:57:17Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:19Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:20Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:21Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:22Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:23Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:25Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:26Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:27Z] INFO: SSH health check attempt attempt=2/5
[2026-02-08T00:57:27Z] DEBUG: SSH health check error error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) attempt=2
[2026-02-08T00:57:27Z] INFO: Waiting before retry delay=10s
[2026-02-08T00:57:27Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:28Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:29Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:31Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:32Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:33Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:34Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:36Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:37Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:37Z] INFO: SSH health check attempt attempt=3/5
[2026-02-08T00:57:37Z] DEBUG: SSH health check error attempt=3 error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:37Z] INFO: Waiting before retry delay=10s
[2026-02-08T00:57:38Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:39Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:40Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:42Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:43Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:44Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:45Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:46Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:47Z] INFO: SSH health check attempt attempt=4/5
[2026-02-08T00:57:47Z] DEBUG: SSH health check error attempt=4 error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:47Z] INFO: Waiting before retry delay=10s
[2026-02-08T00:57:48Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:49Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:50Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:51Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:52Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:54Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:55Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:56Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM vm=sandbox-vm error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:57Z] DEBUG: Failed to sync clipboard from VM error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: SSH health check attempt attempt=5/5
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] DEBUG: SSH health check error error=SSH connection failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. (NIOPosix.NIOConnectionError error 1.) attempt=5
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] ERROR: SSH health check failed after all retries retries=5 host=192.168.64.7
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] ERROR: Health check failed ✗ type=ssh
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] ERROR: Unattended setup failed error=Health check failed: Health check 'ssh' failed
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Attempting to stop VM name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Stopping VM via virtualization service name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] ERROR: Failed in VM.run errorType=CancellationError name=sandbox-vm error=The operation couldn’t be completed. (Swift.CancellationError error 1.)
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Clipboard sync stopped vm=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Releasing file lock after error name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Performing additional lock cleanup after error name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Forcibly clearing locks on config file name=sandbox-vm path=/Users/user/.lume/sandbox-vm/config.json
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Standard unlock attempts performed name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Successfully acquired and released lock to reset state name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Trying aggressive method: backup and restore config file name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Removed original config file to clear locks name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Restored config file from backup name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Lock successfully cleared - verified by acquiring test lock name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: VM stopped successfully via virtualization service name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Attempting to clear any locks on config file name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Forcibly clearing locks on config file path=/Users/user/.lume/sandbox-vm/config.json name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Standard unlock attempts performed name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Successfully acquired and released lock to reset state name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Trying aggressive method: backup and restore config file name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Removed original config file to clear locks name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Restored config file from backup name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Lock successfully cleared - verified by acquiring test lock name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: VM stopped after failure name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] INFO: Cleaning up VM after failed unattended setup name=sandbox-vm
[2026-02-08T00:57:58Z] ERROR: Failed to create VM error=Health check failed: Health check 'ssh' failed
Error: Health check failed: Health check 'ssh' failed

[mattbisme]

Could be related: I noticed that when I do manual setup and then enable Remote Login inside the VM, I get the same sync clipboard errors. The errors go away when I disable Remote Login.

[f-trycua]

Hey @blissdev @mattbisme, sorry about this.

The Failed to sync clipboard from VM spam was caused by an experimental clipboard sync feature that was mistakenly enabled by default. It polls SSH every second, and since SSH isn't available during unattended setup, it logged an error on every attempt — flooding your output and making the real issue hard to see.

Fixed in v0.2.79: Clipboard sync is now off by default (opt-in via --clipboard). Please update and retry:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trycua/cua/main/libs/lume/scripts/install.sh)"

If the SSH health check still fails after updating, please share the logs and we'll look into the timing.

[mattbisme]

Thanks! Update solved it!