Cannot change an ESX host's vpxuser account back to its default settings

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• You cannot change an ESX host's vpxuser account back to its default settings.
• After changing the user permissions for the an ESX host's vpxuser account, you cannot change them back.
• Unable to change an ESX host's vpxuser account back to its default settings.

Environment

VMware ESX Server 2.5.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESX Server 3.0.x

Resolution

The vpxuser account is created by VirtualCenter when an ESX host is added. Do not manipulate this account.

You must delete and recreate the vpxuser account to reset it back to its default settings.

To delete and recreate the account:

1. Right-click the ESX host in VMware Infrastructure Client that is connected to VirtualCenter and choose Disconnect if it does not already show as not responding or disconnected already.
   
   Note: Do not remove the ESX host.
   
   
   
2. Connect to the ESX host console as root directly, via a remote KVM, or using an SSH client. For more information, see Connecting to an ESX host using an SSH client (1019852).
3. Run the command:
   
   userdel vpxuser
   
   
   
4. Right-click the ESX host in VMware Infrastructure Client that is connected to VirtualCenter and choose Connect.
   
   Note: Ignore any login failure errors that display in the Tasks.
   
   
   
5. Enter the root user and password and follow the prompts to connect the ESX host.
   
   VirtualCenter recreates the vpxuser account with the default settings.

Additional Information

Connecting to an ESX host using an SSH client
ESX ホストの vpxuser アカウントをデフォルトの設定に戻すことができない