scp-action: drone-scp error: error copy file to dest: ***, error message: Process exited with status 142

I had a chance to deal with that error today, so guys, possible causes of the error:

• scp do not create a folder by itself, so be sure your target folder exist;
• the storage is full;
• user’s insufficient permissions in target directory;
• your user does not have a home directory (most likely the action first scps the file into the user’s home directory, and then performs a move);

the last one worked for me.

Hope this helps, good luck everyone! 🤟

same problem I think the problem is /var/www does not exist on my machine or my user does not have root permission I just add a normal user or Could not chdir to home directory /home/my user name: No such file or directory

jobs:
  deploy_to_server:
    name: Deploying to Server
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: copy file via ssh password
        uses: appleboy/scp-action@v0.1.4
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.HOST }}
          username: ${{ secrets.USERNAME }}
          password: ${{ secrets.PASSWORD }}
          port: ${{ secrets.PORT }}
          source: ./
          target: /var/www/app

update with this it work for me what I do and fixed for me I add my user to the sudo er but did not success I try to add manually /var/www/app folder and test it not work ( think due to permission) so i go to some public places

sudo mkdir /home/my_user_name
sudo chown -R my_user_name:my_user_name /home/my_user_name
sudo chmod 700 /home/my_user_name
sudo usermod -d /home/my_user_name my_user_name

sudo mkdir /home/my_user_name sudo chown -R my_user_name:my_user_name /home/my_user_name sudo chmod 700 /home/my_user_name sudo usermod -d /home/my_user_name my_user_name

then I change the location where I send my file instead of /var/www/app to /home/my_user_name/app and before using scp i create the folder with connecting by ssh and send this command

  make_dir_for_app:
    name: Make a directory for the app
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: executing remote ssh commands using password
        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v0.1.10
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.HOST }}
          username: ${{ secrets.USERNAME }}
          password: ${{ secrets.PASSWORD }}
          port: ${{ secrets.PORT }}
          script: |
            rm -r /home/my_user_name/app          
            mkdir -p /home/my_user_name/app          
            chmod 755 /home/my_user_name/app     
            cd /home/my_user_name/app  
            ls -la

update2 does not need this ssh and create a folder too if your permission is correct scp can create the folder my final config is

  deploy_to_server:
    name: Deploying to Server
    # needs: [make_dir_for_app]
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3

      - name: Get changed files
        id: changed-files
        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v35
        with:
          since_last_remote_commit: true
          separator: ","

      - name: copy file via ssh password
        uses: appleboy/scp-action@v0.1.4
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.HOST }}
          username: ${{ secrets.USERNAME }}
          password: ${{ secrets.PASSWORD }}
          port: ${{ secrets.PORT }}
          source: ./
          target: /home/${{ secrets.USERNAME }}/app

@appleboy it’s not a bug from your side and it’s a server config problem

@matheusfischer0 Please post your config.

The wrong username was the cause of error 142 for me