Try several connection changes

packer/preseed/UbuntuServer20.04/user-data

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #cloud-config
 autoinstall:
   version: 1
-  early-commands:
-    # Block inbound SSH to stop Packer trying to connect during initial install
-    - iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP
+  # early-commands:
+  #   # Block inbound SSH to stop Packer trying to connect during initial install
+  #   - iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP
   locale: en_US
   keyboard:
     layout: en
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ autoinstall:
   identity:
     hostname: packer-template
     username: ubuntu
-    password: $6$SwUak7iE$viBso3cuUs4TPFaoN5eSmf4UBQ/0LyxQu4ty4WBpJnDtmUBS6ZwBReXoHdbdtXD8R96C2fT5t3FfuyfIDhASf0
+    password: $6$E.3LG7StnEURoOWy$PTcyaJyS5HHFExctu5hWd.oH0LapJ9gXzUd62QfVDjza4rfrEy61NVLmlGE40R7eSBvWBkISvRabc2y0NQ/sy0
   ssh:
     install-server: yes
     allow-pw: true

packer/ubuntuserver20.04.pkr.hcl

@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ source "vsphere-iso" "ubuntuserver" {
   
   communicator            = "ssh"
   ssh_username            = "ubuntu"
-  ssh_password            = var.ssh_password
+  ssh_password            = "ubuntu"
+  // ssh_password            = var.ssh_password
   ssh_timeout             = "20m"
   ssh_handshake_attempts  = "100"
   ssh_pty                 = true