ESXI 7.0.3 - New Dell T350 - root password won't work on url or ssh - password DOES work at console

[tryandfindit]

I have a new Dell T350, I have installed VMWare ESXI 7, updated it to 7.0.3, added all available patches via lifecycle....

I initially had NO PASSWORD for the root account when I installed and setup the system,

I could not login to the url path nor ssh, but I could to the direct console,

I saw that I needed a more complex password, so I changed the password to match the criteria required.

*--------$ - inbetween there are (2) numbers, (2) uppercase letters, (2) lowercase letters, (2) special characters

thought this would help, but now I can login to the console, but still not login to the ssh or url path.

I changed the password again, still same results.

I use Chrome, but have tried Firefox and Edge, still same results.

I must be missing something? I have searched your database and google, but no answers yet.

Can someone help me figure this out?

[Kinnison]

Hi,

Probably a silly question, did you take into account the keyboard layout when you installed ESXi, especially, if you used iDRAC to access the console.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[tryandfindit]

Good Evening Kinnison,

I did not, maybe not such a silly question?

I believe I went with the defaults, BUT.....

how can I check this?

AND

what should it be set to?

thank you for responding,

don

[Kinnison]

Hi,

Another somewhat obvious question, your host happen to be managed by a vCenter object and you've enabled the "lockdown" mode in the security profile?.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[tryandfindit]

Sorry, NO VCenter..... 

this is a standalone server.....

the "lockdown" or "lockout" option is greyed out in the console...

[tryandfindit]

Good Evening Kinnison,

I believe I went with the defaults for keyboard settings

, BUT.....

how can I check this?

AND

what should it be set to?

thank you for responding,

We are in the eastern time zone NYC

[Kinnison]

Hi,

Sorry, set a simple password such as VMware1! and then see what happens, double check that your host's network settings are consistent with your context and if you don't use VLAN that you haven't set it to a non-zero value.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[tryandfindit]

hey kinnison

I began with "Password!"

that did not work, or basically worked the same as the complicated password....

I CAN logon into console

I cannot logon to url or ssh

don

[Kinnison]

Hi,

Be patient, I'm not in front of the screen of your console and/or the client from which you are trying to connect so either let's go by hypothesis or you add a few more details.
Were you ever able to access the GUI/SSH when you had version 7.0 (wich build) installed, or did it only happen after you updated to version 7.0U3 (which build) sometime later.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[tryandfindit]

Kinnison,

I was able to logon from URL and Console when I first installed ESXI 7...

I had no password when I first installed and was able to logon from either interface...

then it was when I added all the updates that I now have the issue.... I have 7.0.3 with latest lifecycle version installed.

does that help? 

or do you need more?

thank you

[Kinnison]

Hi,

Honestly, I've never run into a problem like this, at least not in the terms you set out.
But what I don't understand is that you say you have applied "latest lifecycle version" and all the "updates", because it is not clear what exactly you are referring to. The most recent version of ESXi is a cumulative patch that includes every fix introduced in previous versions and the installation method, in the case of a "standalone" host, does not involve an undefined "lifecycle tool".

Are you sure that the "root" account is not repeatedly locked out due to equally repeated login attempts with incorrect passwords?
When you are in front of the "DCUI" access the console with ALT+F1 and try to log in, see what happens (use ALT+F2 to switch back to the DCUI).

Regards,
Ferdinando

[tryandfindit]

When you are in front of the "DCUI" access the console with ALT+F1 and try to log in, see what happens (use ALT+F2 to switch back to the DCUI).

I tried this suggestion, it works!!!

I then tried the url path again, it did not work

[tryandfindit · Accepted solution]

Okay, so I have been in this field for over 30 years, 

this one takes the cake!!!

1. I have a new Dell T350, I have installed VMWare ESXI 7, updated it to 7.0.3, NO VCenter

I could logon at the console, but not via ssh or url - I tried resetting passwords, same results. I re-installed the ESXI 7 and set a new password, I had the same results - console worked, ssh & url did not.

I decided to take a break and bring my dog out in the snow, thought she would stick around, but of course not, ran away. I finally got her back and came back inside.

I tried switching keyboards, yeah I was ready to try anything at this point.

I had a Logitech wireless keyboard that I use for my other laptop, plugged that in and the password wouldn't work at any location, NOT console, NOT url, NOT ssh. I checked to make sure the setting were correct, rebooted a few times, etc....

I switched back to the original lenovo wired keyboard and I could then logon to the console, but not url or ssh

Believe it or now, this was the fix:

I logged on to the console with the lenovo keyboard, and went to change the password, entered in the "old" password

THEN, I switched keyboards to my wireless logitech keyboard - entered the new password twice.

logged off, logged back on - SUCCESS!

went to my laptop, open the url, using the keyboard on my Dell laptop was able to logon - SUCCESS

from my dell laptop I openned up putty, entered the ssh ip address and was able to logon - SUCCESS

I couldn''t believe it, so I switched by to my lenovo keyboard, and I could logon to the console, but not url or ssh.

So, the moral of the story is "if you have an old lenovo wired keyboard hanging around.... SMASH IT"

***** now I registered my VMs and the Status says "invalid"

**** so, I have to go figure that out...

thank you all for reading all this and all the help you have provided

tfi