can't login in vm remote console as root?

[rshahvmware]

I have IBM Blade running VMWare 2.x. Virtual server running SuSE 9.x

I changed so many file during the last week and I reboot the Virtual machine SuSE, now I can't login as root on console or telnet. I can login as regular user. System is working fine.

How can I get console from VMWare so I can boot from CD in single user mode and change those files (NIS files + /etc/nsswitch.conf)?

Any help would be appriciated.

[mikepodoherty]

If you can login to the server as a regular user, try using the su command to change to root:

su -

<root_password>

[rshahvmware]

Nope that does not work, not work "/bin/su" also

[mikepodoherty]

What error are you getting when you try su - or /bin/su?

Have you checked /etc/passwd to be sure root still exists?

[rshahvmware]

Here is output:

rshah@mocha1:/> /bin/su

Password:

/bin/su: incorrect password

rshah@mocha1:/> su -

Password:

su: incorrect password

rshah@mocha1:/>

Here is root entry in /etc/password file:

rshah@mocha1:/> grep root /etc/passwd

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

rshah@mocha1:/>

I think the problem in /etc/nsswitch.conf file but I can't update until I can login on system as root or single user mode.

passwd: files nis

group: files nis

hosts: files dns nis

networks: files dns

services: nis files

protocols: files

rpc: files

ethers: files

netmasks: files

netgroup: files

publickey: files

bootparams: files

automount: files nis

aliases: files

shadow: file nis

[mikepodoherty]

The error you are getting indicates that you are not entering what the system has for the password for the root account. su - and /bin/su both are providing the correct response - asking for the root password.

Do you have an account that can update the root password?

[Craig_Baltzer]

Are you trying to get to the "console" of the SuSE 9.x server you have running as a VM? If so connect to the ESX server (or the VirtualCenter server if you're running VC) with the VI Client, right-click SuSE server VM from the list and then pick "Open Console".

[polysulfide · Accepted solution]

From virtual center double click one of your datastors and upload a Linux rescue CD ISO.

Right-click your VM and choose edit

select the virtual CD ROM drive and mount the uploaded ISO, check "connect on startup"

Click on the Options Tab, Select Boot Options and check the box to boot into BIOS

Save your changes

Right-Click the VM again and choose open console.

Reboot the VM

When BIOS comes up go to the boot options and move CD ROM to the top of the list

Exit saving changes

on boot you should now boot from your Linux CD ISO.

If it was useful, give me credit

Jason White - VCP

[rshahvmware]

Thanks,

This works...

Rajiv Shah

[polysulfide]

That's great news. I hate to nag but would you mind clicking "correct answer" next to my post?

Thanks!

If it was useful, give me credit

Jason White - VCP

[TomHowarth]

Rajiv

If the answer was correct or helpful please award points also can you mark your question as answered. people have taken the time to help you on this issue.

Tom Howarth

VMware Communities User Moderator