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How to activate root SSH access in ESX 4.0


In ESX 4.0 SSH is blocked by default for the root user so you need to activate the root login on the console of the ESX server.

Note that instead of activating ssh for the root, which is not really recommended you can connect to your ESX server with a normal account (which you added during the installation process) and use a linux command su – (switch user) to became a root. However, if you just testing stuff and want to log in directly as root, here is how to do it.

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Way ago I wrote an article about how-to activate SSH for the rooin ESX 3 and ESX 3.5 here. With ESX 4.0 it is the same way.

So I’ll try to repeat the steps here for the new people which does not have much experience and coming to learn some more about ESX Virtualization. I suppose that you’re already installed your ESX Server correctly and you don’t need help with this.

01.) First you must login as a root at the console of your ESX 4 Server.

02.) Then you must navigate to the /etc/ssh directory. Just type in:  cd /etc/ssh

How to activate root access SSH in ESX 4.0 Server

03.) Open nano (text editor, easy to use…) type: nano sshd_config

Navigate to the line saying PermitRootLogin no and change it to Yes.

How to activate root access SSH in ESX 4.0 Server

04.) Type then CTRL+X to exit. On the prompt answer Y (as Yes to save the modified file).

How to activate root access SSH in ESX 4.0 Server

05.) Then you’ll need to restart the sshd service typing: service sshd restart.

06.) While you are in the cosole just type in the following two commands to open firewall ports:

esxcfg-firewall -e sshServer
esxcfg-firewall -e sshClient

How to activate root access SSH in ESX 4.0 Server

Vladan SEGET

Vladan is an Independent consultant, vExpert, VCP and owner of this website. This website ESX Virtualization started as a bookmarking site, but very fast found itself many readers and supporters. Feel free to network via Twitter @vladan

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  • Tomi

    No, DO NOT DO THIS!
    Root account should not be used for SSH access.

    What you should do is to create an personal user account into service console and set permissions on datastores so that you can write onto those with our account.

  • Vladan SEGET

    Tomi,

    The way that your are describing doing this ist that it might be the right way to do it in production environements. Why not? I’m not saying trying to do on your production servers. But after all, what do you risk. It’s like the admin password for your domain….. Not to give it into everybody’s hands….. -:)

  • dizel247

    My way of doing it.

    When log in to server
    type: nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    change allow root login to yes
    close nano
    then type: /etc/init.d/sshd restart

  • http://malaysiavm.com craig

    to be honest, I do not think to enable root is require for test, development or production. You can always do a su – when you had SSH to your ESX host. At the same time, you may execute most of the stuff from vCenter rather than command prompt. Should try to avoid enable root on SSH.

  • Vladan SEGET

    Thanks for your comments guys.

    Dizel247: This how-to tutorial is ment to be for a newbie….

    Craig: You’re right doing su – does that. -:)

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  • Kyle

    Thanks for the info! Worked great. Needed to scp an iso over.

  • Actonartman

    Thank you!