How-to root access VMware ESX Server from WinSCP, Putty and others…
Enable remote SSH root user console access
When you first install VMWare ESX Server you don’t have the root account SSH acces. VMWare ESX 3 security restricts SSH access by the root user account by default. This means that the root account is denied access when using Putty, WinSCP or similar SSH applications. To remove this restriction follow this how-to:
1. Access to local server console and from the local console, either at the server, remote management or similar login as root to the ESX server.
2. Navigate to the ssh folder, eg:
cd /etc/ssh
3. Open the sshd_config file with a text editor, eg: vi or nano.
4. Go to the line where it says PermitRootLogin no (In my file it’s about line 32) and change the no to yes
5. Save the file and restart the sshd service: service sshd restart
Other posts from Server Virtualization
- Create your own Provider Virtual Data Center
- Measure some perf benchs with VMark
- VMware partners with Symantec on ApplicationHA
- Andre Leibovici's Linked cloning storage calculator
- SIOC yes, but not in the SMB kit...
- Best practices KB on how-to install ESX 4.1 and vCenter
- Hyper-V and new linux integration tools
- How to Fix “Transaction log for database ‘VIM_VCDB’ is full” errors
- How to change from ACPI Multiprocessor HAL back to ACPI Uniprocessor HAL in Windows 2003
- AD Integration for ESXi 4.1
- vCenter converter with Hyper-V import
- Serial Port handling in ESXi 4.1
- Four memory optimization techniques available in vSphere 4.1
- Activating remote access via SSH in ESXi4.1
- vSphere Compatibility Matrixes
- 150 new features or enhancements in vSphere 4.1
- Personalized install of VMware tools
- VMware tools download from VMware Website
- How to change virtual SCSI controler
- Microsoft's patch for .NET breaks VI client connection






















