Access to VCSA through SSH and/or local console is NOT working. Help!

[BaptisteR]

Hello,

It's been hours I try to connect to vcsa through ssh or even on the local console. It is activated on the DCUI of vcsa. My password is correct since I can access the DCUI but I can't access either with ssh (access denied) or with the local console.

On the local console, I have nothing written, it send me back to the prompt again and again. If I use a wrong password, it tells me that my login is incorrect.

I tried to restart vcsa, turning off and on ssh but nothing is working. If someone has an idea...

I even try to change my password but it didn't help. I also checked if DCUI may be bugged but on the vsphere web client, ssh is also shown as on.

Thank you a lot for your help !

[Sreejesh_D]

hello,

can you try accessing vcsa through web console?

vSphere 5.5 Documentation Center

if it works follow the steps in d article to enable ssh.

VMware vSphere 5.1

[Sreejesh_D]

the steps to access webclient.

1	Go to the configuration address that your VMware vCenter Server Appliance virtual machine provides: https://VMware vCenter Server Appliance IP address:5480.
2	Type your user name and password, and click Login. The initial default user name is root, and the default password is vmware.

[BaptisteR]

Sorry, my mistake.

My VCSA is in 6.0.0, this interface (appliance management user interface) doesn't exist (if I'm correct) on this version. If I try the url, it just doesn't work.

It is only available with the update 1. see this link: Updating vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 to Update 1 - VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs

Here is some screenshots :

I can access to the DCUI and SSH is on :

If I try the local console with the correct password, the console just give me back the prompt:

If I give a wrong password, the console send me this:

On the web interface for vCenter, ssh is also indicated as activated:

And finally, by ssh, I have an access denied (I tried the same password as the one to access DCUI, which should be the same. In any case, I also tried vmware...).

...

[BaptisteR]

I managed to capture what I can see, for not even a second, when I try to login on the local console of VCSA.

If anyone has an idea...

[mythumbsclick]

BaptisteR

Did you manage to resolve this? Pretty sure I have exactly the same issue. I have managed to remove the grub password and reset the root pass which works in both web vcsa client and the first vcsa console root prompt. But when i try and SSH or alt-f1 from the console I cant log in. Access denied

[thefdlord]

Hi,

I had the same issue and I was able to fix it by

logging into the vCenter console and modifying the passwd file

~# vi /etc/passwd

and change the appliancesh to /bin/bash

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

Also make sure that ssh access for root is enabled from /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Regards,

Naveen

Technical Support Engineer

VMware, INC

[mythumbsclick]

Thanks thefdlord

I think I am almost there. So I originally followed this guide to remove grub and reset root: http://www.unixarena.com/2016/04/reset-grub-root-password-vcsa-6-0.html

After this i was able to change that /etc/passwd root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash as you suggested. Now when I log in via the console (alt f1) I enter root and password and it logs in fine but it doesnt look correct.

I expect to see Last Login/ connected to service/ List APs/Lanuch bash shell etc

But all I see is Last Login and the the command prompt. If i type shell i get -bash: command not found

[thefdlord]

Hi,

Currently the default shell is set to bash as a work around.

You can verify that by issuing

~# echo $0

If you want the appliance shell just type

~# appliancesh

Note: I have however found that if we change the default shell back to appliance shell (root:x:0:0:root:/root:appliancesh), I am unable to login to the root account. This could be a bug, we will have this validate.

Regards,

Naveen Kumar

Technical Support Engineer

VMware, INC

[mythumbsclick]

Cool. So I now have full shell access again. THANKS! What i dont understand is I now have full console vcsa access but Web and SSH using the same root pass give the error unable to authenticate user. Please try again or Access Denied. I have checked via the vcsa console that SSH is enabled. Is this a password expiry thing or a ssh/web service thing?

[mythumbsclick]

finally there i think. Just a case of resetting the root password via the vcsa console (f2). now i can access console/ssh/web. that was a right pain in the @rse. I didnt feel at any time the root password was consistent through each part (web/console/ssh)

[sarikrizvi]

Awesome bro, thank you so much