VMWare EXSi8 Configure Management Network Enable EXSi Shell

 

 Configure Networking to assign static IP address Using DCUI (Direct Console User Interface)

This is useful if you’re directly at the ESXi machine.

✅ Steps:

1. Power on your ESXi host.
2. On the yellow-gray screen, press F2 to enter System Customization.
3. Enter the root password.
4. Select Configure Management Network.
5. Choose IPv4 Configuration:
• Select Set static IPv4 address and network configuration
• Enter:
• IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
• Subnet Mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0)
• Default Gateway (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
6. Press Enter to save.
7. Optional: Choose DNS Configuration to set:
• Hostname
• Primary and Secondary DNS
8. Back out and choose Apply changes and restart management network.
9. Press Y to confirm.

✅ Done! The static IP is now set.

 

🖥️ Enable EXSi Shell via Direct Console User Interface (DCUI)

This is the method to use if you're physically at the server or using remote KVM/iLO/iDRAC access.

✅ Steps:

1. On the ESXi host, go to the yellow-gray screen (DCUI).
2. Press F2 to Customize System.
3. Enter the root password.
4. Navigate to:
• Troubleshooting Options
5. Enable:
• ESXi Shell
• (Optional) SSH if you want to access ESXi remotely via terminal.
6. Press Enter to toggle each service on/off.

✅ You’ll now see “ESXi Shell is enabled” in the status bar at the top.