Losing access to the Nutanix Prism Web Console isn’t uncommon. Whether you’ve forgotten the password or need to reset it for security reasons, Nutanix makes the process simple through the command line (NCLI). Here’s how to do it.
When You Might Need to Reset the Password: You may need to reset the Nutanix Prism password in these situations:
- Forgotten Password – You or someone on your team can’t remember it.
- Security Update – You’re rotating credentials as a best practice.
- Account Locked – Too many failed attempts locked you out.
- Admin Turnover – A previous admin left without sharing credentials.
What You’ll Need: Before starting, make sure you have:
- SSH access to a Controller VM (CVM)
- Admin privileges
- A healthy Nutanix cluster
Steps to Reset the Prism Password
1. SSH into a Controller VM
Connect to any CVM using: ssh nutanix@<IP Address or FQDN>
2. Run the Password Reset Command
Make sure you pick a password that meets these requirements:
- At least 8 characters
- At least 1 lowercase, 1 uppercase, 1 digit, and 1 special character
- Must differ by at least 4 characters from the previous password
- Must not be one of the last 5 passwords
- No more than 2 of the same character in a row
- Cannot be a dictionary word or overly simple
- Must include characters from all 4 character classes
If the password you entered doesn’t meet the requirements, you will see this message: Error: Password requirements.
If successful, you will see: Password of user ‘admin’ reset successfully.
3. Log In to Prism
Open your browser and go to the Nutanix Prism web console. Use:
- Username: admin
- Password: The new one you just set
Click Login to access the console.
Summary: Resetting the Nutanix Prism password is quick if you have SSH access to a Controller VM. Using the ncli command, you can securely update the admin password while ensuring it meets Nutanix’s password complexity rules. Always follow security best practices—use strong passwords, rotate them regularly, and store credentials securely to avoid future lockouts.
What Do You Think?
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