Cannot log in to vMA using the Web interface or SSH

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Cannot log in to vSphere Management Assistant (vMA) using the Web interface or Secure Shell (SSH).
• Logging in to vMA using the Web interface or SSH fails.
• When logging in to vMA via SSH, you see the error:
  
  Error: Access Denied
  
  
• When logging in to vMA via Web interface, you see the error:
  
  Error: Unable to authenticate user. Please try again.
  
  
• You are able to log in to vMA using the vMA console.

Environment

• VMware vSphere Management Assistant 4.1
• VMware vSphere Management Assistant 5.5

Cause

The issue occurs if there is a backslash (\) character in the vMA password.

Resolution

Ensure the vMA password does not include a backslash character.

To change the vMA password ensuring there is no backslash character:

1. Connect to the vMA console in a vSphere Client.
2. Press Alt + F2 to access the login prompt.
3. Enter vi-admin for the user and enter the current password.
4. In the command-line, run the command:
   
   passwd
   
   
5. When prompted, enter a new password that does not include a backslash.

Additional Information

To troubleshoot SSH issues on the vMA:

1. To determine if the sshd service is running, run the command:
   
   # sudo service sshd status
   
   
2. If the SSH service is not running, restart the service using this command:
   
   # sudo service sshd restart
   
   
3. If the issue persists even after restarting the service, open the /etc/hosts.allow file and change the sshd: ALL entry to:
   sshd: ALL: ALLOW