Unable to SSH or ESXi Shell an ESX host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• ssh to the ESX host fails
  
  
• bash shell access on the ESX host fails

Environment

vSphere ESX

Cause

ESX ssh and bash shell are disabled by default.

Resolution

Enable ssh on the host using the vSphere Client.

• vSphere Client -> esx host ->
  
  
  • Configure -> Services -> SSH -> Start
    
    
  • Configure -> Services -> ESXi Shell -> Start
    
    

 

Enable SSH via DCUI (remote kvm).

You can also access the Bash shell from the DCUI. After enabling bash, you can do Alt+F1 to access the Bash shell from the DCUI.

• From the Direct Console User Interface, press F2 to access the System Customization menu.
  
  
• Select Troubleshooting Options and press Enter.
  
  
• From the Troubleshooting Mode Options menu, select a service to enable.
  
  
  • Enable ESXi Shell
    
    
  • Enable SSH
    
    
• Press Enter to save Changes
  
  

Additional Information

After enabling the ESXi Shell in the direct console, the combinations of ALT + Function keys listed below can be used to access the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) of an ESXi host:

• ALT+F1 = Switches to the console.