Enable the unsupported SSH Server in ESXi 4.0

  • Wed, Jun 3, 2009
  • One-minute read

  1. At the console of the ESXi host, press ALT+F1 to access the command shell.

  2. Enter unsupported in the console and hit enter. You will not see what you type.

  3. If you did it right you should see a fairly common linux command promt like: ~#

  4. Edit the file /etc/inetd.conf. Remove the # in front of the line that starts with # SSH. Do this simply by typing vi /etc/inetd.conf. Use the down arrow to locate the line. Press the letter x and save the file by pressing ESC once and then type :qw!

  5. Now, at next restart of the ESXi host you will be able to access the host via SSH. Or run /sbin/services.sh restart

Sources: vm-help.com & yellow-bricks.com

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