Changing the BMC login password from an ESXi host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article addresses whether an ESXi host natively supports changing the hardware BMC (such as iLO) login password, and whether changing this password impacts the connection between ESXi and the underlying hardware.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

Resolution

Native ESXi Capability

ESXi does not have a native, built-in feature to change the BMC/iLO login password.

 

Hardware Vendor Tools

While ESXi lacks this native functionality, your hardware vendor might provide specific command-line tools or utilities that can be installed and executed on the ESXi host to manage BMC settings. Please contact your hardware vendor for further assistance and to obtain the appropriate tools for your specific server model.

 

Impact on Connectivity

Normally, changing the BMC login password does not impact the connection or traffic between the ESXi host and the hardware. However, the exact behavior strictly depends on the specific design and architecture of the BMC. This should be confirmed directly with the vendor before proceeding.

 

(Note) For vSphere DPM Users

If your ESXi host is part of a cluster with vSphere Distributed Power Management (DPM) enabled, vCenter Server uses the BMC credentials to manage the host's power state. If you change the BMC password, you must also update the corresponding credentials in the vSphere Client to avoid DPM operational failures.

To update the BMC password for vSphere DPM in the vSphere Client:

1. Select the ESXi host in the vSphere Client inventory.
2. Click the [Configure] tab.
3. Under [System], select [Power Management].
4. Click [Edit] (or [Edit IPMI/iLO Settings]), enter the new password, and click [OK].

Additional Information

ESXi ホストから BMC のログインパスワードを変更する方法について