Is it possible to limit OpenSSH maximum number of clients?

[JOSE MANUEL CIGES REGUEIRO]

C2 - PSA Sensitive

I am trying to limit the number of total OpenSSH connections to our Unix systems.

At first, I have tried modifying OpenSSH configuration with `MaxSessions` and `MaxStartups` options but with no success. They are ignored (maybe I don't really understand what this options are intended to).

Using PAM limits in `/etc/security/limits.conf` I have succeed with `maxsyslogins` directive:

```
# limit connections to the system to 10
*    -    maxsyslogins    10
```

It works, but we are limiting all kind of logins to the system, and using a third party solution to apply limitations to OpenSSH. By example, we have different kind of Unix (HP-UX, Solaris, Linux, AIX) and in not every server we are using PAM for authentication.

I mean, does it exists a simpler and more direct way to do it? Something similar to Apache `MaxClients` directive? 

I don't find it and it's very strange for me that OpenSSH does not have this possibility :-|.


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José Manuel Ciges Regueiro
Unix Systems Administrator & LAMP developer

Tel: +34 608 57.05.06
Skype:  jmciges
Email:  jmanuel at ciges.net