Unable to connect via SSH as the admin user

Products

• VMware HCX

Issue/Introduction

• You cannot establish an SSH connection to HCX Manager using the admin user.
  
  
  
• You can log in as the admin user from the System Appliance Management Interface.
  https://<HCX-Manager-IP>:9443/
  
  
  
• The SSH service on HCX Manager is enabled.
  
  
  
• The following log is output to /var/log/messages in HCX Manager.
  

  <timestamp> <HCX Manager> sshd[22439]: Failed password for admin from <IP address> port <port number> ssh2

Environment

VMware HCX

Cause

If the admin user's password is incorrect, PAM may lock the account.

Resolution

Follow these steps to unlock the admin user account.

1. Open the HCX Manager console from the vSphere Client.

2. Log in as the root user.

3. Run "su admin" to switch to the admin user.

4. Exit the admin user and return to the root user.

5. Log out.

6. Attempt an SSH connection using the admin user.

Additional Information

If you do not know the root user password, refer to KB321638 to reset the password.
[Reset root/admin password for PhotonOS based HCX Manager]
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?articleNumber=321638