As Charles noted, the ''-v" switch can be useful, but sometimes doesn't tell enough.

If you need more detail, try "-vv", or if you want *really* verbose: "-vvv".

I've seldom had a case where -vvv wasn't enough to give me good clues as to what was wrong.  And as Donna noted, it can be something as simple as the permissions on your .ssh directory.

Unfortunately, the man-page and 'debug' option he referenced - isn't available in the version of OpenSSH (and thus sftp) that Ken Hirsh ported so many years ago.  Here's the options available from sftp's 'usage' output:
usage: sftp [-vC1] [-b batchfile] [-o ssh_option] [-s subsystem | sftp_server]
            [-B buffer_size] [-F ssh_config] [-P sftp_server path]
            [-R num_requests] [-S program]
            [user@]host[:file [file]]

Note that any '-v', '-vv', or '-vvv' must go BEFORE any -b or user@hostname options.

If you're still having trouble after this, feel free to contact me 'off-list' - and I'll be happy to help you get this going.

BTW - if you don't have it already, the O'Reilly 'SSH, The Secure Shell - The Definitive Guide " can be VERY helpful, but just be sure to get >= the 2nd edition.  The first edition is obsolete, even for the fairly antique version of OpenSSh that runs on MPE.

Good Luck!

-Brian Edminster
 Applied Technologies, Inc
"Robust Solutions and Integration, 
 for Today, and Tomorrow".

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