Enable SSH access in ESXi

Enabling SSH access on VMware ESXi allows you to connect to the host using a Secure Shell (SSH) client for management and troubleshooting purposes. Here are the steps to enable SSH access on ESXi:

Enable SSH Through the ESXi Host Client:

1. Connect to the ESXi Host Client:
   • Open a web browser and navigate to the IP address or hostname of your ESXi host using the following format: https://<ESXi_IP_or_Hostname>.
   • Log in with your ESXi credentials.
2. Navigate to the Host Configuration:
   • In the left navigation pane, go to the “Manage” tab.
   • Under “System,” click on “Security Profile.”
3. Enable SSH:
   • In the “Security Profile” tab, find “Services” and click on “Edit” next to “Services.”
   • Find “SSH” in the list, check the box to enable it, and click “OK.”
4. Start the SSH Service:
   • In the “Security Profile” tab, find “SSH” and click on “Options.”
   • In the “SSH Options” dialog, set the “Start and stop with host” option to “Start and stop manually.”

Enable SSH Through the vSphere Client:

1. Connect to the vSphere Client:
   • Open the vSphere Client and connect to your vCenter Server or directly to the ESXi host.
2. Navigate to the ESXi Host Configuration:
   • In the left navigation pane, go to the “Hosts and Clusters” view.
   • Select your ESXi host.
3. Access the Host Configuration:
   • Click on the “Configure” tab.
   • Under “System,” click on “Security Profile.”
4. Enable SSH:
   • In the “Security Profile” tab, find “Services” and click on “Edit” next to “Services.”
   • Find “SSH” in the list, check the box to enable it, and click “OK.”
5. Start the SSH Service:
   • In the “Security Profile” tab, find “SSH” and click on “Options.”
   • In the “SSH Options” dialog, set the “Start and stop with host” option to “Start and stop manually.”

Connect to ESXi via SSH:

Once SSH is enabled, you can connect to your ESXi host using an SSH client such as PuTTY (on Windows) or the Terminal (on Linux or macOS). Use the ESXi host’s IP address or hostname and your ESXi credentials.

ssh root@<ESXi_IP_or_Hostname>

Make sure to replace <ESXi_IP_or_Hostname> with the actual IP address or hostname of your ESXi host.

Remember, enabling SSH provides additional access to your ESXi host, and it’s essential to keep security in mind. Always use secure passwords and consider disabling SSH when not needed to minimize potential security risks.