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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-27T13:21:17+00:00

I am trying to setup some reverse ssh tunnels so I can access my

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I am trying to setup some reverse ssh tunnels so I can access my home network by bouncing off some server with a public IP.

When I run this command:
ssh -R :[port_XX]:localhost:22 some_user@my_server

Even if “port_XX” is in use, it will still make a successful ssh connection to “my_server”.

If I am running this command directly, I can see the problem when it gives me a warning:
“Warning: remote port forwarding failed for listen port [port_XX]”

However, I am starting this ssh session inside a screen session using a cron job.

How can I programmatically check if the remote port forwarding was successful?

The screen session can be checked with “screen -ls”, the ssh session is also easily checked, but the remote port forwarding…?

(Please let me know if this question is not clear enough! I’ve done my research but haven’t found a simple solution.)

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Try adding -o ExitOnForwardFailure=yes

    The full command will be something like:

    ssh -N -R [port_XX]:localhost:22 -o ExitOnForwardFailure=yes user@host

    (-N is useful to just forward port, without opening a remote shell; you can also add -f to send process in background, no need if you are running under screen, though..)

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