Methods to recover the ESXi host root password

Products

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

Issue/Introduction

This document outlines various methods for recovering the ESXi host root password.

Environment

• vSphere ESXi
• vSphere ESXi 7.x
• vSphere ESXi 8.x

Resolution

There are several ways to reset the ESXi host root password.

Using Host Profile

• Reset ESXi Host Root Password with Host Profile - The KB provides guidance on resetting the root password for an ESXi host connected to vCenter when access via SSH or DCUI with the root account is not possible due to password issue. 

Using PowerCLI

• Reset Password for root account of ESXi Server using PowerCLI - The KB is useful when the vCenter Server license doesn't allow the use the Host Profiles.

Re-install the ESXi host OS while preserving VMFS Datastore

1. Backup ESXi configuration using this article if at all possible - How to back up and restore the ESXi host configuration
2. Put host in maintenance mode.
3. Disconnect host from cluster.
4. Preserve VMFS and reinstall the same version of ESXi as before.
   
   
   
5. Restore ESXi configuration using the same article referenced in Step 1
6. Re-connect host to cluster
7. Exit maintenance mode