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Opening a command or shell prompt (1003892)
Purpose
This article guides you through the process of opening a command prompt from Windows, a shell prompt from Linux or Mac OS. The article also describes how to get to a command or shell prompt by using a Secure Shell (SSH) utility.
This process is a requirement of many of VMware's Knowledge Base articles.
Resolution
The method of opening a command or shell prompt differs between operating systems. Refer to the section that matches the operating system you are using:
This article also explains the process of using a Secure Shell (SSH) utility.
Opening a command or shell prompt
Windows
To open a command prompt in Windows:- Click Start > Run.
- Type
cmd. - Click OK.
exit and press Enter.
Linux
The exact method of doing this varies with the distribution and version of Linux operating system in use. If you are looking at a graphical screen, the most common method of getting to a shell prompt is to press Ctrl + Alt + F2. You may have to log in.
Note: To logout, type exit and press Enter. To return to the graphical interface, press Alt + F7.
Mac OS
- Click Finder.
- Open the
/Applications/Utilitiesfolder by pressing Command + Shift + U. - Open the Terminal application.
Note: To exit from Terminal, type
exit,press Enter then press Command + Q.
Using Secure Shell (SSH)
A Secure Shell (SSH) utility allows a computer to open an encrypted command or shell prompt on a remote system. Note: This is the recommended method of opening a shell prompt on a remote ESX host. To start an SSH session from Linux or Mac OS:- Open a shell prompt as described above.
- Type
ssh <username>@<server>and press Enter.
Note: Replace<username>with a valid user on the remote system that is allowed to login remotely, and replace<server>with either the hostname or IP address of the remote system.
- The hostname or IP address of the remote system.
- A valid user on the remote system that is allowed to login remotely.
- The password for the user on the remote system.
- If an SSH connection is being established for the first time to the remote host, permission must be given to establish a connection to the system.
If you are unable to establish an SSH connection to an ESX server, see Unable to connect to an ESX host using Secure Shell (SSH) (1003807).
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