sshconfig-lint

Include nesting too deep

All checks
errorChecked by the CLIINCLUDE_DEPTH

An Include chain exceeds OpenSSH’s maximum nesting depth of 16.

Why it matters

OpenSSH stops loading the configuration when recursive Include nesting becomes too deep. A long chain is also difficult to understand and maintain.

How to fix it

Flatten the Include tree. Let the root config include feature or host files directly, move shared settings into one common file, and keep every chain at 16 levels or fewer.

Before and after

What is wrong
# configInclude level-1.conf # ... level-16.confInclude level-17.conf
Corrected configuration
# configInclude hosts/work.confInclude hosts/personal.conf