vSphere 5 Video - Direct Console User Interface Access through SSH

This video will show you an new vSphere 5 feature which enables you to get access to the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) through SSH instead of the ESXi physical console. Only users that are assigned the Administrator role can log in to the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI). To allow access to the direct console, add the user to the local administrators group. Enabling or disabling lockdown mode affects which types of users are authorized to access host services, but it does not affect the availability of those services. In other words, if the ESXi Shell, SSH, or Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) services are enabled, they will continue to run whether or not the host is in lockdown mode.

Configure Lockdown Mode

To increase the security of your ESXi hosts, you can put them in lockdown mode. When you enable lockdown mode, no users other than vpxuser have authentication permissions, nor can they perform operations against the host directly. Lockdown mode forces all operations to be performed through vCenter Server.

When a host is in lockdown mode, you cannot run vSphere CLI commands from an administration server,vfrom a script, or from vMA against the host. External software or management tools might not be able to retrieve or modify information from the ESXi host.

The root user is still authorized to log in to the direct console user interface when lockdown mode is enabled. Enabling or disabling lockdown mode affects which types of users are authorized to access host services, but it does not affect the availability of those services. In other words, if the ESXi Shell, SSH, or Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) services are enabled, they will continue to run whether or not the host is in lockdown mode.

[tsivanathan]

Thank you very much! learned something new today! really appreciate it!

[chrismerani]

DCUI ! Thank you. I have been searching all over for how to do this. Super simple.

[kchuan]

Hi Is it possible to connect to (unix-centos) vm after i connected to ESXI? i understand i can use cmd to power on / off vm, but can i connect to the guest machine without using guest IP? I can open the console in vsphere client... just want to find out whether it can be done by using ssh to esx then to guest vm without have guest IP. Thanks

[daye]

Great video. I can dcui after Puttying into the host from Windows OS. However, from MAC OS X, after ssh into that host, dcui command returns nothing. Do you know why? Thanks.

[Sirijus]

Hey Eric, thanis for your videos. By the way. What application you are using then recording perfect sound and screen capture?