Hunterbackup307

This post just goes to show that I’m always learning new things, even when they are old things! I saw a tweet float by from Grant Orchard talking about getting into the ESXi Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) over SSH.

• Access Esxi Shell From Console
• Esxi Exit Console
• Esxi Management Console
• Vmware Esxi Console Access
• Esxi Console Commands

It is possible to open the DCUI (Direct Console User Interface) via SSH – using putty for example: Open a putty to your ESXi Host (it is necessary to enable SSH – you can find a “how-to” below) and run the command “dcui”. From the Direct Console User Interface, press F2 to access the System Customization menu. Select Troubleshooting Options and press Enter. From the Troubleshooting Mode Options menu, select a service to enable. Enable ESXi Shell; Enable SSH; Press Enter to enable the service. Press Esc until you return to the main menu of the Direct Console User Interface.

With ESXi, the “console” is a simple yellow and black menu driven text interface with only the most basic options. However, ESXi actually has an extremely thin linux-based console that can be accessed. Officially, VMware says that you should administer your ESXi server using either the GUI VI Client or the CLI VMware RCLI. An ESXi system includes a Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) that you can use to start and stop the system and to perform a limited set of maintenance and troubleshooting tasks. ESXi Shell Access with the Direct Console ESXi ShellAccess with the Direct Console.

Access Esxi Shell From Console

Did you know that you can launch the DCUI of a vSphere host via an SSH session by typing dcui at the prompt? Me neither, thanks @jasonboche

— Grant 🍎 Orchard (@grantorchard) October 29, 2014

I had no idea you could do this. I searched around and found a decent number of blog posts on the topic, such as this one from Maish Saidel-Keesing, along with VMware KB 2039638 entitled Accessing Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) from an SSH session. My head must have been in the sand! However, I figure that it never hurts to further spread the word on something good to the community, right?

Fair warning, though. As pointed out by Frank Büchsel, the KB specifically states:

Changing network settings using this command may make the host unusable and can necessitate a reboot to recover.

Make sure that SSH is enabled and started on your ESXi host. In the lab, I always have SSH Running. In production, I tend to have it Stopped.

Next, SSH into the ESXi host. I’ve run a version check just to show that it’s a real system. The DCUI command should work on any version of ESXi 5.X.

If you’re running SSH in a window, size the window appropriately for your eyeballs. Then, type DCUI at the command prompt and use it like your normally would. I found that if I resize the SSH window while working in the DCUI, it breaks the DCUI interface. To fix this, try Ctrl + C or reconnect to the host.

When done, press Ctrl + C to escape back to the command prompt.

A big round of thanks to the peanut gallery on Twitter, too. 🙂

@ChrisWahl@grantorchard@jasonboche@maishsk @vmcutlip pic.twitter.com/usN9NCJDLb

— Jeramiah Dooley (@jdooley_clt) October 30, 2014

The Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) allows you to interact with the host locally using text-based menus. Evaluate carefully whether the security requirements of your environment support enabling the Direct Console User Interface.

Esxi Exit Console

Esxi Management Console

1. From the Direct Console User Interface, press F2 to access the System Customization menu.
2. Select Troubleshooting Options and press Enter.
3. From the Troubleshooting Mode Options menu, select a service to enable.
   • Enable ESXi Shell
   • Enable SSH
4. Press Enter to enable the service.
5. Press Esc until you return to the main menu of the Direct Console User Interface.

Vmware Esxi Console Access

What to do next

Esxi Console Commands

Set the availability and idle timeouts for the ESXi Shell. See Set Availability Timeout or Idle Timeout for the ESXi Shell.