ESXi4 Enable SSH

[MasterPT]

Hello All,

How to enable SSH service without access to the remote server. Is it possible?

The only access is available is VMware Infrastructure client.

Best Regards

[mcowger]

Cant.

--Matt

VCP, vExpert, Unix Geek

[AndreTheGiant]

You need access to the console.

Or check if your server has a configured ILOE or DRAC interface.

Andre

[DaKrash]

You don't have physical access to your server?

You must install VCLI this will help you a lot.

VCLI comes with some perl scripts that uses ESXi 4 Management Internet Based Web Service (HTTPS) to do some administration tasks remotely

I think that you can customize some VMWare perl scripts like VIFS.pl and Hack this to enable SSH.

All VMWare Tech Certificated Engineers will tell you that it's not possible, but on the real world everything is possible.

Don't give up, talk with some Perl Developers on Perl Forums.

[lamw]

There are no hacks to enable SSH w/o going into the Busybox console.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Comuunity

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[DaKrash]

Are you sure lamw?

How much you pay to know how?

[lamw]

prove me wrong, more than welcome to hear it.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Comuunity

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[DaKrash]

I Will prove that in about two weeks.

Meanwhile I will challenge every VMWARE engineers to try that.

Because I already have done this and I'm not certified.

[mcowger]

If you've already done it, why not share with the class? We'd love to see it - some very good engineers including lamw and other have tried and not been able to.

--Matt

VCP, vExpert, Unix Geek

[DaKrash]

Two weeks and I will share that.

But until then I would like to hear from all VMWARE expertises if they know how to do that.

[MasterPT]

You're my hero DaKrash ... however we will wait and see if you are so good...

show me your dark side and makes me believe that you are the greatest!!!

Thanks to all

[DaKrash]

If 3 of 10 top members Post on this topic that this is not possible I'll post the solution on the same day.

You just need to encourage them to post.

Top Members:

RDPetruska

KevinG

Dave.Mishchenko

Texiwill

oreeh

Troy Clavell

etung

WoodyZ

weinstein5

continuum

[Dave_Mishchenko]

I haven't tried this but it should work.

1) backup host with vicfg-cfgbackup

2) inject your desired inetd.conf file into the backup

3) restore the backup and reboot.

You could use this to change any file /etc, but if it doesn't have the sticky bit set then the change you restored would be gone at 1 minute past the hour.

Dave

VMware Communities User Moderator

Now available - vSphere Quick Start Guide

Do you have a system or PCI card working with VMDirectPath? Submit your specs to the Unofficial VMDirectPath HCL.

[DaKrash · Accepted solution]

Well done.

It's the same trick that I used. And worked fine for me.

I didn't find any issue related to a possible sticky bit. Just used GZIP and TAR.

A few days ago I was searching on all Internet search engines for how to enable SSH on esxi.

But on all of them, no body knew how to do that. So I decided to investigate all vCLI Perl scripts, and found the solution.

Next time if I have other issue I will know where to ask for help (better than stay 7 hours, around this).

I believe that you already tried this, but for some reason, you dont want divulgate.

Maybe because is not a VMWare recomendation, or because VMware don't want this divulgated or something else.

Thanks for telling me that I wasn't the first person to know this trick.

You are the Man.

[MasterPT]

If you want to be on top... please Check this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxB0IIpwZuU

Thanks Dave, Thanks DaKrash everything is possible and remember that... what we do in live fill in enternity.