---
title: "Connecting to the VAST CLI"
slug: "connecting-to-the-vast-cli"
updated: 2026-10-27T17:23:32Z
published: 2026-10-27T17:23:32Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/connecting-to-the-vast-cli"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting to the VAST CLI

1. Ensure that your PC is connected to the same network as all of the VAST Cluster compute servers (CNodes).
2. Establish a Secure Shell (SSH) connection to any CNode in the cluster.

For first-time connection, you can use the management VIP that you provided during installation. This is the IP used to connect to the VAST Cluster management server.

> [!TIP]
> Tip
> 
> If you are connecting from another node of the same cluster, you can specify the node name instead of the node IP. The node name is shown in the Name column of the CNodes or DNodes page in VAST Web UI and in the `Name` field in the VAST CLI `cnode list` or `dnode list` command output.

You are prompted to log into the CNode.
3. For first-time login, use the OS (Linux) user credentials for the CNode.

Refer to [Managing VAST Cluster Passwords](/docs-5-3/docs/en/managing-vast-cluster-passwords) for the OS (Linux) user credentials.

The VAST OS prompt is displayed.
4. At the VAST OS prompt, Run the */vast/data/vms.sh vcli* command to access the CLI.

To run VAST CLI for the first time and log in with the factory default VMS user account:

```plaintext
/vast/data/vms.sh vcli -u admin -p 123456
```

> [!TIP]
> Tip
> 
> For more command options, see [VAST CLI Running Options](/docs-5-3/docs/en/vast-cli-running-options).

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> VAST Cluster has one factory default VMS user account. You cannot delete the factory default VMS user account or reduce its permissions. After first-time login, you can change the password for the default VMS user, create additional VMS users, and/or configure role-based access. For more information, see [Authorizing VMS Access and Permissions](/docs-5-3/docs/en/authorizing-vms-access-and-permissions). Authorizing VMS Access and Permissions

The CLI welcome text and prompt appears.

```plaintext
Welcome to VAST Management CLI!!!
Type help or ? to see a list of commands
vcli: admin>
```