Enable ESX remote ssh root access

If you are getting an error trying to remotely connect to an ESX host via ssh it is because root ssh access is disabled by default. Therefore winscp, putty, or any other remote console tool will fail.

Here are the steps necessary to enable root to have ssh remote access.

Step 1 – Enable remote ssh root access
Modify the PermitRootLogin flag to yes in the /etc/sshd/sshd_config file to allow root remote login.

# perl -spi -e ‘s|PermitRootLogin no|PermitRootLogin yes|’ /etc/ssh/sshd_config
 

Step 2 – Enable remote ssh root accessConfirm change.The value should illustrate yes, with no hash mark prior to the flag.

# grep ‘PermitRootLogin’ /etc/ssh/sshd_config

PermitRootLogin yes

#
 

Step 3 – Enable remote ssh root access
Restart the sshd service:

# service sshd restart

Ref: http://vmetc.com/2007/08/04/enable-esx-remote-ssh-root-access/