After making the following changes to /etc/sshd_config: RSAAuthentication yes UsePrivilegeSeparation no I am able to install and run two sshd daemon's at the same time, a "SYSTEM" daemon, and a "USER" daemon with the following: $ sshd_system.sh $ sshd_user.sh -P 23 I have not yet got it to work with /etc/sshd_config containing: UsePrivilegeSeparation yes as I get Bad owner or mode for /var/empty in /var/log/sshd_ross.log. There are two ways to work around this problem: 1. Use a different sshd_config for the USER daemon: $ sshd_user.sh -P 23 -f $HOME/.ssh/sshd_config 2. Always start the USER daemon with the following script: #!/bin/sh # sshd_user_restart.sh cygrunsrv --stop sshd_${USER} chown ${USER}.none /var/empty cygrunsrv --start sshd_${USER} chown system.system /var/empty Hope this helps, Ross