lost root password, how to reset it, how to preserve existing vms

[casilmo]

I lost the password for the Esxi 5.1 host, is there a way to reset the password and preserve the existing vms? I was searching and found that by reinstalling and perform an upgrade it will allow me to change the password and preserve the vms?

I tried booting with Ubuntu but cannot mount the raid 5 partition. Please help, is it worth to purchase a support incident?

[a_p_]

In case this is a stand-alone host (i.e. not managed through vCenter Server) you can - as you already found out - go ahead and re-install ESXi. During the installation process you have to select the "install, preserve VMFS" option. This will reinstall the Hypervisor (including asking for a new root password) and allow you to register the VMs again after the installation - as well as the required configuration (e.g. networking) - is done.

André

[casilmo]

Thank you Andre for your response, when I run the ESXi installation it asks to select the a disk to install or upgrade, I see 4 DELL partitions how do I know which one to chose?

[a_p_]

Great question. You should see an option "F1 Details" to check the current partitions for each entry. The one with the OS should have partitions as shown at e.g. ESXi 5 partitions | Rickard Nobel. In doubt, please post some screenshots/pictures.

André

[casilmo]

I got it, found it, at the ESXi found screen I only see two options Install and Upgrade, I don't see the option "Install, preserve VMFS"

[a_p_]

That's not so good and won't help. Install would overwrite things, and upgrade wouldn't ask you for a new password.

Can you confirm that you have selected the disk which shows s.th. like "ESXi found: ESXi 5.x.x" in the disk's details?

André

[casilmo]

Yes, under the details of the disk it displays ESX(I) Found: ESXi 5.1.0

[a_p_]

Does the disk/device on which ESXi is installed contain a VMFS partition (this is shown in the selection screen)? In case of e.g. an installation on a USB/SD device there might be no VMFS datastore which needs to be preserved.

André

[casilmo]

Yes, this is what it displays: Path: /vmfs/devices/disks/mpx.vmhba32:C0:T0:L0

[a_p_]

Please post a screenshot or picture of the screen on which you can select a disk to install ESXi, i.e. the screen with the 4 disks you mentioned.

André

[casilmo]

Here is a picture

[a_p_]

The "IDSDM" is the "Internal Dual SD Module", i.e. ESXi is installed on a device which does not contain no VMFS datastore/partition. You also see that there's no asterik in front of the device. In this case it should be ok to use the install option. However, I never did this on a DELL host myself, so I can't tell you for sure whether this will be 100% safe!

André

[casilmo]

Unfortunately we don't have any backup, since it is installed on the ISDM, should I assumed that the other partitions are the ones containing the VMs? and if I reinstall it will only affect the ESXi host? how do I register the VMs after the install? or the install will keep all of the previous settings? what if I choose the upgrade, what exactly will do?

Thanks in advance

[a_p_]

In the screenshot you posted you can see the disks/volumes which contain VMFS partitions (datastore). Those are marked with an asterik on the left.

Installing ESXi on the IDSDM should only overwrite the SD device, and shouldn't touch the other disks. After installing and configuring ESXi you can then use the Datastore Browser from the vSphere Client, and right-click the different VMs' configuration (.vmx) files in order to add them back to the host's inventory again.

The Update option doesn't help much in your case, as it won't allow to enter a new root password.

André