to access SSH to vCenter you have to enable SSH from VAMI not the Bash, following this procedure: Enable or Disable SSH and Bash Shell Access 

Hi Hassan,

I enabled SSH and BASH from VAMI, it still says access is denied. 
I reset the vcenter password and can log into VAMI, but not when i SSH through putty. 

When i try to console into the vcenter appliance from the host, it accepts my password but still doesn't do anything. if i intentionally enter an incorrect password it will say login incorrect whereas the correct password just takes me back to the login screen. 

See if the following KB helps you solve the issue:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/50113586

Regards,
Sachcihdanand

from the console, try to Run the command to list running services: service-control --status and check if all required services are running.

I can't log into the console. It will accept the credentials but doesn't do anything. 

I found a thread that seems to have the exact same problem i here from 5 years ago 

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vCenter-Discussions/Access-denied-root-ssh/m-p/2983510#M490...

Hi Hassan, any other suggestion if i can't log into the console? It accepts credentials but doesn't move away from enter the credentials prompt. When i enter bad credentials it'll say incorrect, but nothing when it's correct. 

Did u check this >> https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/50113586 ?? 

Hi @uhokaysure ,

Please reset the password again with KB: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2147144

Post resetting the password and before reboot, Run below commands:

pam_tally2 --user root --------------------> If number of failures are huge, Then reset the root account or unlock it

pam_tally2 --user root --reset ----------> This will unlock the root account

Hope above helps.

I have faced the same issue, I logged in with @vsphere.local account and then I reset the root password