An ESXi host includes several services that are running by default. You can disable services from the security profile, or enable services a if company policy allows it.
Use the vSphere Web Client to Enable Access to the ESXi Shell is an example of how to enable a service.
Note: Enabling services affects the security of your host. Do not enable a service unless strictly necessary.
Available services depend on the VIBs that are installed on the ESXi host. You cannot add services without installing a VIB. Some VMware products, for example, vSphere HA, install VIBs on hosts and make services and the corresponding firewall ports available.
In a default installation, you can modify the status of the following services from the vSphere Web Client.
Service | Default | Description |
---|---|---|
Direct Console UI | Running | The Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) service allows you to interact with an ESXi host from the local console host using text-based menus. |
ESXi Shell | Stopped | The ESXi Shell is available from the Direct Console User Interface and includes a set of fully supported commands and a set of commands for troubleshooting and remediation. You must enable access to theESXi Shell from the direct console of each system. You can enable access to the local ESXi Shell or access to the ESXi Shell with SSH. |
SSH | Stopped | The host's SSH client service that allows remote connections through Secure Shell. |
Load-Based Teaming Daemon | Running | Load-Based Teaming. |
Active Directory Service | Stopped | When you configure ESXi for Active Directory, this service is started. |
NTP Daemon | Stopped | Network Time Protocol daemon. |
PC/SC Smart Card Daemon | Stopped | When you enable the host for smart card authentication, this service starts. See Configuring Smart Card Authentication for ESXi. |
CIM Server | Running | Service that can be used by Common Information Model (CIM) applications. |
SNMP Server | Stopped | SNMP daemon. See vSphere Monitoring and Performance for information on configuring SNMP v1, v2, and v3. |
Syslog Server | Stopped | Syslog daemon. You can enable syslog from the Advanced System Settings in the vSphere Web Client. See vSphere Installation and Setup. |
VMware vCenter Agent | Running | vCenter Server agent. Allows a vCenter Server to connect to an ESXi host. Specifically, vpxa is the communication conduit to the host daemon, which in turn communicates with the ESXi kernel. |
X.Org Server | Stopped | X.Org Server. This optional feature is used internally for 3D graphics for virtual machines. |