ESXi login fails when accessing the host through iDRAC virtual console

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• You are unable to log in to an ESXi host through the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) or the Host Client when using the iDRAC virtual console to access the server.
• The password works correctly immediately after a fresh ESXi installation, but stops working shortly after.
• Logging in directly at the physical server keyboard succeeds, but the same password fails when typed through the iDRAC console window.
• Reinstalling ESXi does not resolve the issue.

Additional symptoms reported:

• "I can log in at first and able to configure the management IP address, but once its done the password won't work anymore."
• Unable to log in to the ESXi console and web GUI after reinstalling multiple times.

Environment

• ESXi 8.0 Update 3, installed on a Dell server accessed via iDRAC virtual console

Cause

When the iDRAC virtual console window is opened, Caps Lock is automatically activated without any visual indication. Any keystrokes entered through the console window are then transmitted with inverted case. Because ESXi passwords are case-sensitive, a password typed normally through the iDRAC console will not match the stored password, causing authentication to fail every time.

This behavior occurs even if the Caps Lock indicator on the local keyboard appears to be off, because the state is set inside the iDRAC session rather than on the physical keyboard.

Resolution

Workaround

1. Open the iDRAC virtual console window.
2. Before typing anything, press Caps Lock twice. This resets the key state inside the iDRAC session.
3. Log in to the ESXi host using your normal credentials.

If you also want to prevent this from occurring on future console sessions:

1. Check your iDRAC firmware version. Go to iDRAC web interface > iDRAC Settings > Overview.
2. Compare the installed firmware version against the latest available from Dell's support site.
3. If a newer version is available, update the iDRAC firmware following Dell's firmware update procedures for your server model.

Additional Information

• • For information on FW time synchronization messages that may appear in the ESXi console alongside this issue (harmless), see "FW timesync start" message occurs every 15 minutes when using bcm-mpi3 driver..
  • This behavior is tied to the iDRAC virtual console session state and is not caused by ESXi or any ESXi configuration. If a physical keyboard or a KVM switch is available, it can be used as an alternative access method while a permanent fix is pursued through iDRAC firmware updates.