Accessing the PCoIP Management Console Virtual Machine Console

In order to change the PCoIP Management Console's default settings and run various scripts, you must connect to the PCoIP Management Console’s virtual machine console and log in. The AMI release of PCoIP Management Console has SSH enabled by default to provide access to its virtual machine console. The SSH server on the CentOS operating system virtual machine is disabled on the OVA release of PCoIP Management Console since access to the virtual machine console can be made using VMware vSphere Client. However, if your security requirements permit SSH access, you can temporarily or permanently enable SSH for the PCoIP Management Console virtual machine admin user. This section provides instructions for both methods.

Info: PCoIP Management Console AMI virtual machine console

When using PCoIP Management Console AMI format, SSH on the CentOS operating system virtual machine is enabled by default to provide console access via an SSH Client.

Caution: SSH access on PCoIP Management Console AMI

Disabling SSH access on PCoIP Management Console AMI releases is not recommended as it will prevent you from gaining vm console access which may be required to make changes such as security updates and password changes.

PCoIP Management Console AMI users should start at Logging in from an SSH Client

Logging in to the PCoIP Management Console OVA Virtual Machine Console

To log in to virtual machine console from vSphere Client:

  1. Launch VMware vSphere Client.
  2. Enter the IP address or FQDN for your vCenter Server along with your user name (DOMAIN\user name) and password.
  3. Select Inventory > VMs and Templates.
  4. Expand the inventory tree and locate your PCoIP Management Console virtual machine.
  5. Right-click on the virtual machine and select Open Console.
  6. Log in to the console:
    user name: admin
    password: ManagementConsole2015 (default) or the password you have assigned to the admin user.

    Note: Releasing the cursor once connected

    Once you are connected to the console through the VMware vSphere client, you can release the cursor at any time by pressing Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Fn+Control+Option (Mac).

  7. When you have finished using the console, type logout to log out.

Enabling/Disabling SSH Access

By default, SSH access is disabled when the PCoIP Management Console OVA release is first installed. If your security requirements permit SSH access and you wish to log in to the PCoIP Management Console virtual machine console this way, you can run commands to enable SSH temporarily or permanently.

Note: Only admin user can access SSH on AMI and OVA distributions

The PCoIP Management Console is configured to only enable SSH access for the admin user when the SSH server is enabled. The PCoIP Management Console (OVA or AMI) always restricts SSH access for the root user.

Temporarily Enabling SSH Access

To run the SSH server and enable SSH access for the admin user until the next reboot:

  1. Log in as admin to the PCoIP Management Console OVA virtual machine console from your vSphere Client. See Logging in to the PCoIP Management Console OVA Virtual Machine Console.
  2. Run the following command at the command line:
    sudo /sbin/service sshd start

Temporarily Disabling SSH Access

To stop the SSH server and disable SSH access for the admin user until the next reboot:

  1. Log in as admin to the PCoIP Management Console virtual machine console from your vSphere Client. See Logging in to the PCoIP Management Console OVA Virtual Machine Console.
  2. Run the following command at the command line:
    sudo /sbin/service sshd stop

    Note: Permanent SSH configuration

    A permanent SSH configuration will automatically start the SSH service on reboot.

Permanently Enabling SSH Access

To permanently enable SSH on next reboot:

  1. Log in as admin to the PCoIP Management Console OVA virtual machine console from your vSphere Client. See Logging in to the PCoIP Management Console OVA Virtual Machine Console.
  2. Run the following command at the command line:
    sudo chkconfig sshd on
  3. If SSH is disabled, Run the following command at the command line to start SSH immediately:
    sudo service sshd start

Permanently Disabling SSH Access

Caution: Disabling SSH access on PCoIP Management Console AMI release not recommended

Disabling SSH access on PCoIP Management Console AMI releases is not recommended as it will prevent you from gaining vm console access which may be required to make changes such as security updates and password changes.

To permanently disable SSH for the admin user after the next reboot:

  1. Log in as admin to the PCoIP Management Console OVA virtual machine console from your vSphere Client. See Logging in to the PCoIP Management Console OVA Virtual Machine Console).
  2. Run the following command at the command line:
    sudo chkconfig sshd off
  3. Disable the service by running the following command at the command line:
    sudo service sshd stop

Logging in from an SSH Client

To log in to virtual machine console from SSH Client once SSH is enabled:

  1. Launch your preferred SSH client.
  2. Enter the following information:

    • Host name: Enter the FQDN or IP address for your PCoIP Management Console virtual machine.
    • Port: 22
    • Connection type: SSH
  3. Click Open.

  4. Log in to the PCoIP Management Console virtual machine console:
  5. user name: admin
  6. password: ManagementConsole2015 (default) or the password you have assigned to the admin user. See Changing the PCoIP Management Console Virtual Machine Default User Password.
  7. When you are finished using the console, type exit to log out and exit the application.
  8. If desired, disable SSH. See Enabling/Disabling SSH Access.

Changing the PCoIP Management Console Virtual Machine Default User Password

The PCoIP Management Console’s default password when it is first installed is ManagementConsole2015. To secure the PCoIP Management Console, it is critical to change this password immediately after installation.

To change the virtual machine default user password:

  1. Log in to your PCoIP Management Console virtual machine console as admin using the default password, ManagementConsole2015.
  2. Type passwd at the command prompt.
  3. When prompted, enter the default password and then your new password twice:

    passwd
    Changing password for admin user.
    New password:
    Retype new password:<br>passwd:<br>password updated successfully.
    
  4. Follow your company's policy for storing and sharing passwords.