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How to Enable and Disable SSH on ESXi

09.01.2025 Netbudur
How to Enable and Disable SSH on ESXi
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How to Enable and Disable SSH on ESXi

The SSH (Secure Shell) access to VMware ESXi servers is used to interfere with the remote command line to the server. However, SSH should be activated when necessary as it can carry security risk, and it should be disabled after processing. In this article, we tell how to open and close the SSH service on ESXi servers.

How to Open SSH Service?

1. Activation SSH from ESXi Web Interface

  1. Login to the Web Panel: Open the ESXi web interface in your browser (https://[ESXi_IP_Adresi]) and sign in with the administrator account.

  2. Go to Services Page:

    • Using the left menu Host > Manage > Services open part.

  3. Find TSM-SSH Service:

    • From the Services list TSM-SSH Find the service. This is the SSH service of ESXi.

  4. Start SSH:

    • TSM-SSH Activate the SSH service by clicking “Start” button next to the service.

2. Activate SSH using vSphere Client

  1. Connect to your ESXi server with vSphere Client.

  2. Select your ESXi host on the home screen and Configuration > Security Profile go to the tab.

  3. Services From Edit Click the option.

  4. TSM-SSH Find the service, select and activate the “Start” button.

3. Enable SSH using Command Line

If you can access console on the ESXi server, you can start SSH service with the following commands:

vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh
vim-cmd hostsvc/start_ssh

These commands activate and start SSH service.

How to Close Up SSH Service?

It is important to disable SSH service after use, improve safety. You can track the reverse of the above methods to close SSH:

Closing SSH from Web Interface

  1. Web panelinde Host > Manage > Services open part.

  2. TSM-SSH Find the service.

  3. Service Stop By clicking the button, disable SSH.

Closing SSH using vSphere Client

  1. vSphere Client’ta Configuration > Security Profile Go to the section.

  2. TSM-SSH Find the service and Stop Close the option by clicking.

Closing SSH using Command Line

With Console or SSH, you can use the following commands to stop and disable SSH service:

vim-cmd hostsvc/stop_ssh
vim-cmd hostsvc/disable_ssh

 

ESXi is an issue where you need to activate and close the SSH service on your servers, be careful with security if it facilitates server management. It is one of the best apps to activate and disable the SSH service only when necessary.