Understanding and Customizing ESXi Password Requirements
VMware ESXi enforces strict password policies for access via the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) , ESXi Shell , SSH , and the VMware Host Client . These rules are designed to improve security by requiring strong, complex passwords. Default ESXi Password Requirements: Character Classes : Passwords must include at least three of the following four character classes: Lowercase letters Uppercase letters Numbers Special characters (e.g., underscore or dash) Password Length : Must be at least seven characters long and no more than 40 characters . Restrictions : Passwords cannot contain dictionary words or parts of them. Passwords cannot include the username or parts of the username. Customizing ESXi Password Restrictions: You can modify the password rules if the default password policy doesn't meet your organisation's needs. VMware allows you to configure custom password policies to match specific s...