Reset ESXi Host Root Password with Host Profile

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0

Issue/Introduction

Unable to login ESXi host as password is unknown. 

Note: This will only change the password per what is configured in the host profile and cannot use this process to find an unkown password.

 

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Resolution

Follow the below steps to reset the ESXi host password.

1. Login to the vCenter UI

2. Go to 'Home' > 'Policies and Profiles' > 'Host Profiles'

3. Click 'Extract profile from a host'

4. In the 'Extract Host Profile' wizard select the affected host

5. Name the Host Profile and click 'Next' > 'Finish'

6. Right click the new Host Profile and click 'Edit Host Profile'

   

7. In the 'Edit Host Profile' wizard uncheck all boxes

8. Using the search filter, search for 'root'

9. Check the box for 'root'

10. In the 'Password' drop-down, choose 'Fixed password configuration' 

    1. Security and services > Security setting > Security > User configuration > root >

    2.   Password > Fixed password configuration > set the new root password

       

11. Enter the new password and click 'Save'

12. Right-click the new Host Profile to open the 'Actions' menu. Choose 'Attach/Detach Hosts and Clusters...' and then select the host in the wizard.
    
    

13. Right-click the new Host Profile to open the 'Actions' menu. Choose ' Edit Host customization..

    Select the host which stats Customization required, check the configurations and Finish [ no changes need]

14. Click the hamburger button in the upper left of the screen and select inventory.

15. Right-click the ESXi host in the inventory. The select Host Profiles > Remediate...

    **Caution** : Un-Select the "Automatically reboot hosts that require remediation" else this will reboot the ESXi host.

    
    
    
    
16. To confirm success, right-click the host and select Host Profiles > Check Host Profile Compliance.

 

Note: There are no tools or methods to recover the original root password of an ESXi host.

 

 

Additional Information

For Host Profile feature you must have Enterprise Plus License.