ESXi uses the Linux PAM module pam_passwdqc for password management and control. We can change the required length, character class requirement, or allow pass phrases using the ESXi Advanced setting Security.PasswordQualityControl
I will be using ESXi 6.7 from my test lab for this discussion.
As you can see, it is similar to that of what we had in ESXi 6.0 and its predecessor’s as well.
retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,7,7
Above setting can also be written as
retry=3 min=8,8,8,7,7
The above statement also has the same meaning as first entry
Let us understand the changes if any, in password policy of ESXi 6.5 and later. I have tried to simplify the ESXi password policy as much as possible at below link.
https://blogs.virtualmaestro.in/2020/04/24/esxi-6-5-later-password-policy/