Use this procedure to reset the vCenter Server Appliance Administrator
(administrator@vsphere.local) password. You will need the vCenter Server Appliance root user credentials.

Step one – connect to vCenter Server Appliance

Using putty or an OS with ssh support, connect through SSH to the vCenter Server Appliance console with the root user credentials

Step two – Start service tool

For vCenter 5.x, run the following command:

/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/vdcadmintool

For vCenter 6.0 and 6.5, run the following command:

shell.set --enabled True 
shell
/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/vdcadmintool

The command line displays the following for vCenter 5.5 and vCenter 6.0:

================================
 0. Exit
 1. Test LDAP connectivity
 2. Force start replication cycle
 3. Reset account password
 4. Set log level and mask 
 5. Set vmdir state
================================

The command line displays the following for vCenter 6.5:

 ================================
 0. Exit
 1. Test LDAP connectivity
 2. Force start replication cycle
 3. Reset account password
 4. Set log level and mask 
 5. Set vmdir state 
 6. Get vmdir state 
 7. Get vmdir log level and mask
==================================

Step three – Reset account

Press 3 to enter the Reset account password option

Step four – Insert account

For vCenter 5.5 and vCenter 6.0, when prompted for the Account DN, type:

cn=Administrator,cn=users,dc=vSphere,dc=local

For vCenter 6.5, when prompted for the Account UPN, type:

Administrator@vsphere.local

A new password is generated

Step Five – Log in to vSphere web client

Using the administrator@vsphere.local user name and the password generated in the previous step, login to vSphere web client

Step six – Change password

• On the home page, click Administration > Single Sign-On > Users and Groups.
• Select the Administrator user.
• Right-click on the user and click Edit User.
• Create a new password.
• Confirm the changes.
• Click OK.
• Sign out of the web client.

Step seven – check new password

Verify the password was changed by logging back into the web client with the new credentials.

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