Activating the Service Console using SSH

  • Remove the USB memstick once the install has completed

  • Allow the RCC Series unit reboot post-install

  • ESX will have obtained an IP address via DHCP. Locate the IP address it obtained from the DHCP server.

  • Launch the vSphere client and connect to the IP address found in the previous step, using the username root and the password configured during the installation.

../_images/esxi-ssh-1.png

  • Inside vSphere, enable SSH as follows:

    • Click on the server name in the left pane, typically the ESX units IP address

    • Click on the Configuration tab

    • Click Security Profile in the Software section

      ../_images/esxi-ssh-4.png

    • Click Properties in the Services section

      ../_images/esxi-ssh-5.png

    • Locate SSH in the list, click it and then click Options

      ../_images/esxi-ssh-6.png

    • Select Start and stop with host, then click OK

    • Open the SSH service again and click Start

      ../_images/esxi-ssh-7.png

    • Click OK

  • Use another system on the same LAN and connect to the ESX server using SSH

  • From the shell, locate the boot configuration:

    find / -name boot.cfg
    ../_images/esxi-ssh-8.png

  • Edit each instance found using the vi editor, for example:

    vi /vmfs/volumes/1c6872e4-a3ca960f-86ae-fdb7de376913/boot.cfg

    • In each file, add the following text at the end of the kernelopt line, leading with a Space (move the cursor to the end of the line and press a, then Space):

      text nofb com2_baud=115200 com2_Port=0x2f8 tty2Port=com2 gdbPort=none logPort=none
      ../_images/esxi-ssh-9.png

    • Save the file (Press Esc, then type :wq and press Enter)

  • Reboot the ESX server and check the console, it will now be operational.

../_images/esxi-ssh-10.png
../_images/esx-console-working.png

Note

If the system will not boot from the eMMC, ensure that the BIOS has been updated to version 06 or later. With BIOS version 06, during the boot process the boot order can be changed to prefer the eMMC by pressing F12, the option for Payload (e.g. 7), then enter the letter for the eMMC (e.g. i), followed by E to save and exit.