Unable to log into VMware vcenter appliance and SSH 6.5

[uhokaysure]

Hi!

I reset the vcenter appliance password, and am able to log into VAMI. 
When I try to log into vCenter appliance through the console using the new credentials, it accepts, but immediately returns to the "vCenter Login:" 

I tried to SSH in, but it states access is denied to everything. Turned on BASH through VAMI and am still unable to connect. 

[HassanAlKak88]

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 

[uhokaysure]

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. 

[Sachchidanand]

See if the following KB helps you solve the issue:

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

Regards,
Sachcihdanand

[HassanAlKak88]

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

[uhokaysure]

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...

[uhokaysure]

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. 

[Ajay1988]

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

[schikhaldekar]

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.

[VRO123]

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