By Default, SSH is disabled for non-root users in ESXi 4.0 and 4.1. This article provides steps to enable local user accounts on the ESXi hosts, allowing them connect to the hosts using SSH remotely.
Resolution
To enable SSH access for non-root users:
Create a user account on the ESXi 4.x host using one of these methods:
Using the vSphere Client
Connect to the host directly using the vSphere Client with root credentials.
Click the Local Users & Groups tab.
Right-click and click Add.
Enter a log in name and password.
Click OK.
Using the useradd command
Note: Remember to set a password for this user account.
Connect to the host via SSH with root credentials.
Run this command
mkdir -p /home/username
Create the user using this command:
useradd test -d /home/username -s /bin/ash
Connect to the host directly using the vSphere Client with root credentials.
Click the Permissions tab.
Right-click Add Permission.
Click Add.
Select the newly created local user from the list and click Add.
Assign the Administrator role to the user and click OK.
When connected to the host via SSH as root:
Take a backup of the /etc/passwd file.
Verify if the user's /home/username directory exists. If not, create it with this command:
mkdir -p /home/<username>
Edit the /etc/passwd file and locate the new user account you created:
Note: In ESXi 4.1, by default, the new user account is created with the shell set to /sbin/nologin. In ESXi 4.0 it is set to /bin/false.
Set the shell to /bin/ash.
Set the /home directory to the user's /home/username directory.
Save and quit the file.
Run this command to restart the inetd service:
services.sh restart
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