"root" password for vCenter Server 6 running on Windows

[TonyJK]

Hi,

We are going to migrate vCenter Server 6 to latest stable build vCSA.

We are asked for both "root" and "vsphere.local\administrator" but it seems that both have been lost. 

May I ask

1) Is there any way to recover / reset them ?

2) How to test those accounts ?  Currently, we are still using Legacy C# Client.

Thanks

[stadi13]

Hi @TonyJK 

Yes, you will be able to recover them. I have tested both several times.

For the root account you have to follow this guide: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2069041

For the administrator@vsphere.local you need to follow https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2146224#on_windows_psc_or_vcs_with_embedded_psc  starting at "On the Platform Services Controller or vCenter Server with Embedded Platform Services Controller Appliance".

After the reset you can test the root account by logging into the appliance by putty with ssh. The administrator@vsphere.local can be tested with the Legacy Client.

Please mark as solved if this answered your question.

Regards

Daniel

[TonyJK]

Dear Daniel,

Many thanks for your advice.

Since we vCenter Server running on a Windows Server (Not VCSA), we just wonder whether there is a "root" account when we set up the vCenter Server.  To our best understanding, there is no such account in our site.  Is my understanding correct ?

Thanks

[stadi13 · Accepted solution]

Hi @TonyJK 

Correct, on a windows server you do not have the root account or anything like that 🙂

The process of resetting the administrator@vsphere.local is also different:

On a Windows Platform Services Controller or vCenter Server with Embedded Platform Services Controller:

1. Log in to vCenter Server with a domain administrator account. If the Platform Services Controller is installed separate from vCenter Server, log in to the Platform Services Controller server.
2. Open an elevated command prompt ( Run command prompt as administrator )
3. Run c:\> "%VMWARE_CIS_HOME%\vmdird\vdcadmintool.exe".
4. Press 3 to enter the Reset account password option.
5. When prompted for the Account UPN, enter:
   
   User@vSphere_Domain_Name.local (Example - Administrator@vsphere.local)
   
   A new password is generated.

Please mark as solved if this answered your question.

Daniel

[sjesse]

root on windows is the general windows administrator account created when its installed. If your logging into windows sucuessfully your fine, so administrator@vsphere.local is the main one you need to concern yourself with