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Accepted
Mike Bailey
Asked: 2011-03-17 20:50:28 +0800 CST

Can I enable SSH on free version of VMware ESXi 4.0 without visiting datacenter?

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I want to enable SSH on VMware ESXi 4.0 (free version). We don't have a console server connected to that host.

Is there any way I can enable SSH without visiting the data center? Their knowledge base seems to indicate this is not possible.

vmware-esxi

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Did you try to revert to evaluation mode, enable remote SSH tech support and then back to your free license?

    Using the evaluation mode is great, it allows you to use some of the enterprise features for up to 60 (completely individual) days! :)

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  2. Sure, if you can reach the server via vSphere client, you can go into settings, security profile, and start the SSH service. That's all there is to it.

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  3. well... you should be able to enable SSH via vSphere in ESXI 4.0

    • Go to Configuration tab
    • Click on the left on Advanced Settings
    • Click on the left on VMkernel
    • Search for VMkernel.Boot.techSupportMode, enable it.
    • Restart the server

    According to the theory, that should enable the SSH...

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  4. Can you not get "intelligent hands" at the DC to do it for you, directed by you?

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  5. Yes, SSH access of ESXi is unsupported, but very useful on some circumstances. It needs to access the physical console of the server to enable it. But it doesn't mean you need to travel there. Some servers has a web based management interface what provides access to the physical console of the server (iLO on HP servers, DRAC on DELL servers). But cheaper server's doesn't have. In that case, the datacenter's has the feature to provide access with IP based console. You should ask a time window and access from the provider to their IP console, and you can access the console of your server with it. I used it many times, they used to give this free.

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