Backport OpenSSH RPM / SRPM for CentOS

A script to backport upstream OpenSSH for CentOS/RHEL (like) distros.

Supported (tested) Distro:

CentOS 5/6/7/8/Stream 8/9
Rocky Linux 8/9
Amazon Linux 1/2/2023
UnionTech OS 20
openEuler 22.03/24.03
AnolisOS 7/8/2023

Project Structure

pullsrc.sh: Script to download source packages.
compile.sh: Script to build RPMs.
version.env: config file for variables (versions, release number, OPENSSL MODE, proxy ...)

The directory (el5, el6, el7) serve as functional templates for different environment types. The openssh.spec are modified based on the shipped spec file from OpenSSH project.

el5: Designed for legacy environments. With toolchains (Perl) to support the build process.
el6: With SysVinit startup.
el7: With Systemd service.

Note: the Systemd units in el7 are applicable not only to EL7 but also to EL8, EL9, and other modern distributions that rely on Systemd.

Current Version:

OpenSSH 10.3p1 (see: OpenSSH Official)
OpenSSL 3.5.6 (see: OpenSSL Official)

The build script reads version.env for version definitions.

OpenSSL is not needed when using WITH_OPENSSL=0. (see version.env)

Build Requirements:

yum install -y autoconf automake gcc make rpm-build pam-devel krb5-devel zlib-devel libXt-devel libX11-devel gtk2-devel perl perl-IPC-Cmd perl-Time-Piece

# For CentOS7 and above:
yum install -y systemd-devel

# For CentOS5 only:
yum install -y gcc44

Usage

Build RPMs

Note: It is unnecessary to build on each system, as most RPM-based Linux distributions are glibc compatible. That is, RPMs built on CentOS 8 can be installed and run on Rocky Linux 8/AlmaLinux 8/Oracle Linux 8, etc.

Install build requirements listed above.
Edit version.env file if necessary.
Download source packages.
```
./pullsrc.sh
```
if any error comes up, manually download the source files into the downloads dir.
Run the script to build RPMs.
```
./compile.sh
```
The generated RPM files will be copied to the output directory.

Install RPMs

ls output
# you will find multiple RPM files in this directory.
# you may copy them to other machines, and continue following steps there.

# Backup current SSH config
[[ -f /etc/ssh/sshd_config ]] && mv /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.$(date +%Y%m%d)

# Install rpm packages.
sudo yum --disablerepo=* localinstall -y ./openssh*.rpm

# Check Installed version:
ssh -V && /usr/sbin/sshd -V

# Restart service
sudo service sshd restart

# Test a new ssh connection
ssh localhost

DO NOT DISCONNECET current ssh shell yet, open a NEW shell and login to you machine to verify that sshd is working properly.

Trouble shooting

You may get complains during the yum localinstall process. It's mostly because some subpackages depend on the main openssh package, upgrading only the main package won't fit in their dependencies.

Commonly these packages are needed to be erased before installing built RPMs.

yum erase openssh-askpass openssh-keycat openssh-cavs openssh-askpass openssh-askpass-gnome openssh-debuginfo

If still not satisfied, you may try the final weapon: FORCED INSTALL.

rpm -ivh --force --nodeps --replacepkgs --replacefiles openssh-*.rpm

Use Docker

For more details, see docker/README.md

Other Notes

Built without OPENSSL

When built with WITH_OPENSSL=0, ssh-rsa keys are not supported. But the RPMs are much smaller, and the built process is much faster.

Install on uniontech UOS 20

UOS's openssh-help subpackage has files that confilict with the package. It's must be removed before installing the compiled RPMs:

sudo rpm --nodeps -e openssh-help
sudo yum --disablerepo=* install -y ./openssh*.rpm

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