"User 'root is not authorized to run this command'" While enabling Shell on VCSA SSH.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Root authentication on VCSA works on SSH, but enabling Shell failed.
  
  
• You will see the error from the VCSA console or a putty terminal: User 'root is not authorized to run this command'

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 8.0.x

Resolution

• Take a snapshot or backup of the vCenter Server Appliance before proceeding.
  Caution: Do not skip this step and take a power off Snapshots of all vCenters in linked mode.
  
  
• Note: If the vCenter Appliance is on the same ESXi hosts, it manages. Connect directly to the ESXi host that it is located on to perform these steps.
• Reboot the vCenter Server Appliance.
• After the VCSA Photon OS starts, press the e key to enter the GNU GRUB Edit Menu.
• Locate the line that begins with the word Linux.
• Append these entries to the end of the line -
  rw init=/bin/bash
  The line should look like the following screenshot:
  
  

 

• Press F10 to continue booting.
• Run the command -
  mount -o remount,rw /
• Modify and save the vCenter's /etc/passwd first line from root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/appliancesh to root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash with a vi command.
• Unmount the filesystem by running this command: umount /
• Reboot the vCenter Server Appliance by running this command: reboot -f