After some digging I found that doing
sshxx@x.y.z.z (ip number not name)
FROM my indigo host to any other box in the local network takes 11 secs to get the password prompt.
It is about the same time for ALL destinations ( other mac, raspberry, AND to itself "ssh userid@127.0.0.1" ) ..)
the mac runs at < 5% load, its a mac pro 2012 w 10.13.6 = sierra
Also did a reboot , no change and pointers on the web were related to dns and avahi, none of that applies here - I believe
Fast:
After successful login everything is fine.. = very fast,
ping in both directions is < 0.3 msecs
Doing an ssh from a virtual box running on that indigo mac to the mac itself is very fast (2 different ip numbers)
Reverse ( ssh to the indigo server) is very fast < 1 sec.
Any suggestions?
Karl