KB: 2004746 Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 5.X while nested in WS 9

[melloyd44]

I am executing ESXi 5.1 as a virtual machine in Workstation 9

Excerpt from KB: 2004746 follows

Accessing the local ESXi Shell

1. If you have direct access to the host, press Alt+F1 to open the log in page on the machine's physical console.
2. Provide credentials when prompted.

I went to the ESXI tab in WS 9 and entered the "Alt+F1" key sequence

It caused the following to appear in the window

           ESXi 5.1.0  http://www.vmware.com

           Copyright (c) 2007-2012 VMware, Inc.

<flashing underscore cursor>

Net-Net: I had expected to be prompted for credentials but instead I am witnessing unexpected results.

I have searched the Internet for any documentation that would doucment the delta(s) in behaviour of the ESXi console on bare metal versus being nested within Workstation 9 with no luck - thus this posting.

Thank you for your consideration

[peetz]

Please have a look at KB1017910: Using Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.x

- Andreas

[melloyd44]

The TSM video was helpful though it is dated as its options have changed description if not function in 5.1 versus that presented in the video.

Furthermore - it appears not to be possbile to set the ESXi Shell and/or SSH timeout when executing ESXi Host 5.1 within WorkStation 9

Lastly, and maybe this is obvious to others it is not to me the ESXi Host Console window presented in WorkStation 9 does not serve as being on the "physical host"  and therefore Alt+F1  fails to work until the ESXi shell is enabled.

It would be helpfu if this KB article like a previous one for ESXi 3.X and 4.X had detailed to return to the DCUI is simply "Alt+F2"

Thank you to the helpful input above - many thanks - I am trying to get my VCP lab up and going on my RHEL 6.3 laptop and am having the usual growing pains.