We run Hudson on a closed network, therefore all updates must be manually transfered into the network. When we updated to server version 1.372 and ssh-slaves plugin version 0.13 the connection to ssh slaves produced an error. The error was some kind of I/O error which timed out and retried with the same error again.

Error trace during startup:
C:\Hudson\bin>Hudson
wrapper | --> Wrapper Started as Console
wrapper | Launching a JVM...
jvm 1 | Wrapper (Version 3.2.3) http://wrapper.tanukisoftware.org
jvm 1 | Copyright 1999-2006 Tanuki Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
jvm 1 |
jvm 1 | Running from: C:\Hudson\lib\hudson.war
jvm 1 | [Winstone 2010/08/17 08:55:41] - Beginning extraction from war file
jvm 1 | hudson home directory: C:\Hudson\bin\..\data
jvm 1 | [Winstone 2010/08/17 08:55:41] - HTTP Listener started: port=8080
jvm 1 | [Winstone 2010/08/17 08:55:41] - AJP13 Listener started: port=8009
jvm 1 | Using one-time self-signed certificate
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:41 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Started initialization
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:41 hudson.ClassicPluginStrategy createPluginWrapper
jvm 1 | INFO: Plugin promoted-builds.hpi is disabled
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:41 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Listed all plugins
jvm 1 | Green Balls!
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:41 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Prepared all plugins
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:41 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Started all plugins
jvm 1 | [Winstone 2010/08/17 08:55:42] - Winstone Servlet Engine v0.9.10 running: controlPort=disabled
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:50 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Loaded all jobs
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:51 hudson.model.Hudson$4 onAttained
jvm 1 | INFO: Completed initialization
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
jvm 1 | INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.web.context.support.StaticWebApplicationContext@b8cd3a: display name [Ro
ot WebApplicationContext]; startup date [Tue Aug 17 08:55:52 CEST 2010]; root of context hierarchy
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext obtainFreshBeanFactory
jvm 1 | INFO: Bean factory for application context [org.springframework.web.context.support.StaticWebApplicationConte
xt@b8cd3a]: org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@714f71
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory preInstantiateSingl
etons
jvm 1 | INFO: Pre-instantiating singletons in org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@71
4f71: defining beans [authenticationManager]; root of factory hierarchy
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
jvm 1 | INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.web.context.support.StaticWebApplicationContext@1cca539: display name [R
oot WebApplicationContext]; startup date [Tue Aug 17 08:55:52 CEST 2010]; root of context hierarchy
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext obtainFreshBeanFactory
jvm 1 | INFO: Bean factory for application context [org.springframework.web.context.support.StaticWebApplicationConte
xt@1cca539]: org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@e5257c
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:52 org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory preInstantiateSingl
etons
jvm 1 | INFO: Pre-instantiating singletons in org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@e5
257c: defining beans [filter,legacy]; root of factory hierarchy
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:53 hudson.TcpSlaveAgentListener <init>
jvm 1 | INFO: JNLP slave agent listener started on TCP port 2980
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:58 hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer tryReconnect
jvm 1 | INFO: Attempting to reconnect slave1
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:55:58 hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer tryReconnect
jvm 1 | INFO: Attempting to reconnect slave2
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:03 hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher launch
jvm 1 | SEVERE: Unable to launch the slave agent for slave1
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Remote call on slave1 failed
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel.call(Channel.java:566)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer.setChannel(SlaveComputer.java:324)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher.launch(CommandLauncher.java:120)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$1.call(SlaveComputer.java:184)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: hudson.remoting.Channel.setProperty(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Obje
ct;)Ljava/lang/Object;
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:552)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:533)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:69)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:23)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Request$2.run(Request.java:213)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Executors.java:417)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(FutureTask.java:269)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:123)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:650)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:675)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:595)
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:04 hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher launch
jvm 1 | SEVERE: Unable to launch the slave agent for slave2
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Remote call on slave2 failed
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel.call(Channel.java:566)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer.setChannel(SlaveComputer.java:324)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher.launch(CommandLauncher.java:120)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$1.call(SlaveComputer.java:184)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: hudson.remoting.Channel.setProperty(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Obje
ct;)Ljava/lang/Object;
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:552)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:533)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:69)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:23)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Request$2.run(Request.java:213)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | ... 5 more
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:04 hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread run
jvm 1 | SEVERE: I/O error in channel slave2
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Unexpected termination of the channel
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:881)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.io.EOFException
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream$BlockDataInputStream.peekByte(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject0(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:875)
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:04 hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread run
jvm 1 | SEVERE: I/O error in channel slave1
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Unexpected termination of the channel
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:881)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.io.EOFException
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream$BlockDataInputStream.peekByte(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject0(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:875)
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:41 hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer tryReconnect
jvm 1 | INFO: Attempting to reconnect slave2
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:41 hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer tryReconnect
jvm 1 | INFO: Attempting to reconnect slave1
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:46 hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher launch
jvm 1 | SEVERE: Unable to launch the slave agent for slave1
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Remote call on slave1 failed
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel.call(Channel.java:566)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer.setChannel(SlaveComputer.java:324)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher.launch(CommandLauncher.java:120)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$1.call(SlaveComputer.java:184)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: hudson.remoting.Channel.setProperty(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Obje
ct;)Ljava/lang/Object;
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:552)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:533)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:69)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:23)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Request$2.run(Request.java:213)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Executors.java:417)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(FutureTask.java:269)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:123)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:650)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:675)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:595)
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:47 hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher launch
jvm 1 | SEVERE: Unable to launch the slave agent for slave2
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Remote call on slave2 failed
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel.call(Channel.java:566)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer.setChannel(SlaveComputer.java:324)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.CommandLauncher.launch(CommandLauncher.java:120)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$1.call(SlaveComputer.java:184)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: hudson.remoting.Channel.setProperty(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Obje
ct;)Ljava/lang/Object;
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:552)
jvm 1 | at hudson.slaves.SlaveComputer$SlaveInitializer.call(SlaveComputer.java:533)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:69)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.UserRequest.perform(UserRequest.java:23)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Request$2.run(Request.java:213)
jvm 1 | at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | ... 5 more
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:47 hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread run
jvm 1 | SEVERE: I/O error in channel slave1
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Unexpected termination of the channel
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:881)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.io.EOFException
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream$BlockDataInputStream.peekByte(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject0(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:875)
jvm 1 | 17-Aug-2010 08:56:47 hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread run
jvm 1 | SEVERE: I/O error in channel slave2
jvm 1 | java.io.IOException: Unexpected termination of the channel
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:881)
jvm 1 | Caused by: java.io.EOFException
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream$BlockDataInputStream.peekByte(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject0(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject(Unknown Source)
jvm 1 | at hudson.remoting.Channel$ReaderThread.run(Channel.java:875)