Error "Password has already been used. Choose another" while changing the root password on ESXi host.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• While attempting to change the root password using the command passwd root, the following error message is encountered: "Change Operation Failed."
• When attempting to change the password via SSH using the passwd command, the following message is displayed: "Password has already been used. Choose another."

Environment

VMware ESXi 8.X

Cause

The 'Security.PasswordHistory' setting defines how many previous passwords the system remembers and prevents users from reusing any of those stored passwords.

Resolution

1. Select the ESXi host in the vSphere Client.
   
   
2. Navigate to Configure > System > Advanced System Settings.
   
   
3. Click Edit.
   
   
4. Search for Security.PasswordHistory.
   
   
5. Set the value to 0, the system will not check a new password against any previously used passwords.
   
   
6. Change the root password:
   
   $ passwd root
   
   
7. Revert the 'Security.PasswordHistory' back to the original value, default is 5.

Additional Information

• For additional information about ESXi Advanced System Settings see:
  
  ESXi Advanced System Settings
  
  
• How to change the root password:
  
  Changing the ESXi host root password