Bug#728391: No diagnostic for missing private key file (!)

[Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk>]

Package: openssh-client
Version: 1:6.0p1-4

If you have a public key file eg ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub, but no
corresponding private key file, ssh(1) will offer the key to the
server, and if it is then accepted will silently forget about the
attempt to use it and carry on trying other authentication methods.
Even -v doesn't help.

If it is not expected that a private key would be missing, then the
appropriate response involves at the very least a complaint to stderr.

And even if it is expected, the -v output should mention why the key
is not being used despite being accepted.

Ian.