Dell Networking SONiC: Secure Shell based login

Summary: This article explains about Secure Shell (SSH) based login in Dell Networking SONiC. This article uses a switch running Dell SONiC 4.1.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

By default, SONiC uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain an IP address for the Management interface (Management0) from a DHCP server (see Using a DHCP server). To set up a remote SSH login to configure the switch:

All SONiC devices support both a serial console-based and SSH-based login. If you use an SSH login, log in to the Management interface (Management0) IP address.
  1. Log in to the Linux shell from the console or through an SSH connection using the default username admin and password YourPaSsWoRd.
At Console: 
Debian GNU/Linux 9 sonic ttyS1

sonic login: admin
Password: YourPaSsWoRd
SSH from any remote server to SONiC can be done by connecting to the IP address of the Management interface.  
user@debug:~$ ssh admin@sonic_ip_address(or SONIC DNS Name)
admin@sonic's password:
  1. When you log in for the first time, you are prompted to change your password. Follow the steps to change your password and log in to the Linux shell. If this is not your first login, go to step 3.
You are required to change your password immediately (root enforced) 
Changing password for admin. 
(current) UNIX password: YourPaSsWoRd 
Enter new UNIX password: ********* 
Retype new UNIX password: ******** 
Linux sonic 4.9.0-11-2-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.9.189-3+deb9u2 (2019-11-11) x86_64 
You are on
SONIC
-- Software for Open Networking in the Cloud – 
Unauthorized access and/or use are prohibited. 
All access and/or use are subject to monitoring. 
Help: http:// azure.github.io/SONiC/ 
admin@sonic:~$


SSH Login
By default, SONiC uses DHCP to obtain an IP address for the Management interface (Management0) from a DHCP server (see Using a DHCP server). To set up a remote SSH login to configure the switch:

  1. Log in to the switch. If you did not already change your password after login, the default credentials are username admin and password YourPaSsWoRd.
  2. Disable the DHCP client, and configure an IP address on the Management interface. Configure a Management route for remote access. 
sonic# config terminal
sonic(config)# interface Management 0
sonic(conf-if-Management0)# ip address 10.1.1.10/24 gwaddr 10.1.1.1
sonic(conf-if-Management0)# no shutdown
sonic(conf-if-Management0)# exit
sonic(config)# exit
sonic# write memory
  1. Log in to the Management interface (Management0) IP address in an SSH session. The Management interface must be UP and have an IP address.
At Console: 
Debian GNU/Linux 9 sonic ttyS1

sonic login: admin
Password: YourPaSsWoRd
SSH from any remote server to SONiC can be done by connecting to SONiC IP. 
user@debug:~$ ssh admin@sonic_ip_address(or SONIC DNS Name)
admin@sonic's password:
  • When you log in with an admin role, you are placed in the Linux shell. The prompt is:
admin@sonic:~$.
To access the Management Framework CLI, enter the SONiC CLI command.
  • When you log in with an operator role, you are placed in the Management Framework CLI. The prompt is:
sonic#
An operator user cannot access the Linux shell.

Affected Products

Enterprise SONiC Distribution, PowerSwitch S5148F-ON, PowerSwitch S5212F-ON, PowerSwitch S5224F-ON, PowerSwitch S5232F-ON, PowerSwitch S5248F-ON, PowerSwitch S5296F-ON, PowerSwitch S5448F-ON, PowerSwitch Z9264F-ON
Article Properties
Article Number: 000218783
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 08 Nov 2025
Version:  3
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