Hi Darren, I'm using OpenSSH version 4.6p1 ans solaris10. I noticed that all the login failures are counted in /etc/shadow file. In my sshd_config file the entry empty passwd is set "PermitEmptyPasswords yes" Every time when i try to ssh to the server other than root user before entering passwd the count in /etc/shadow file is incremented by one (as shown below) . $ cat /etc/shadow | grep test test:QKvRzcIw5ZLls:14267:7:56:42:::1 Due to this after first successful ssh login also i'm geting the warning message as below ( here i have entered correct passwd in the first attemppt but still i got the warning message) $ssh -l test wcars1q7 password: Warning: 1 failed login attempt since last successful login. I believe the count is increamented even before entering the passwd is due to the entry in sshd_config file is set "PermitEmptyPassword yes". I disable the empty passwd entry ("PermitEmptyPasswords no") it works fine as expected. But our server has to use "PermitEmptyPasswords yes" for other users. I wonder if there is any other way to avoid this issue other than disabing emprty passwd entry in sshd_config file. Thanks in advance, Salini