Password Recovery: Procedure 1 - Cisco Catalyst 2000 Configuration Handbook

Switch(config-line)# line con 0
Switch(config-line)# login
Switch(config-line)# password cisco
Switch(config-line)# end
Switch1# copy running-config startup-config

Password Recovery: Procedure 1

Password recovery procedure 1 covers the Cisco Catalyst Layer 2 fixed configuration
switches 2900XL/3500XL, 2940, 2950/2955, 2960, and 2970 Series, and the Cisco
Catalyst Layer 3 fixed configuration switches 3550, 3560, and 3750 series. If you have
lost or forgotten your passwords, or if you want to bypass the configuration file, you can
use this recovery process to gain access to the device.
To recover from a lost password, you have to stop the boot process and then direct the
switch to not use the configuration file. When the switch loads without a file, you have
no passwords and can enter into privileged mode. From there, you can copy the configu-
ration file into active memory and then change and save the passwords. To complete the
recovery process, follow these steps:
Attach a device to the console of the switch. Make sure you have connectivity and
1.
then unplug the power cord from the switch.
Press and hold down the mode button while plugging the switch back in. Release the
2.
mode button after the LED above port 1x has been on for at least two seconds.
You receive some information indicating that the Flash initialization has been inter-
3.
rupted. After you receive this information, at the prompt type the command
flash_init.
Next type the command load_helper.
4.
You need to get a listing of the Flash image with the command dir flash: (the colon
5.
[:] is required).
Rename the file to config.text with the command rename flash:config.text
6.
flash:config.old.
Continue the boot process with the command boot.
7.
Answer n to the question about entering the setup mode.
8.
Press Enter to access the user mode and enter into privileged mode with the com-
9.
mand enable.
10. Rename the configuration file back to config.text with the command rename
flash:config.old flash:config.text.
11. Copy the configuration file into active memory with the command copy flash:con-
fig.text system:running-config.
12. Enter configuration mode with the command configure terminal.
13. Change the line and secret passwords as covered previously in this section.
14. Save the configuration.
Chapter 3: Supervisor Engine Configuration 31