Recovering A Lost Password - Cisco WS-C6506 Software Manual

Configuring Authentication on the Switch
You must have either RADIUS or TACACS+ authentication enabled before you disable local
Note
authentication.
This example shows how to disable local login authentication, enable authentication for both console
and Telnet connections, and verify the configuration:
Console> (enable) set authentication login local disable
local login authentication set to disable for console and telnet session.
Console> (enable) set authentication enable local disable
local enable authentication set to disable for console and telnet session.
Console> (enable) show authentication
Login Authentication:
---------------------
tacacs
radius
kerberos
local
Enable Authentication: Console Session
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------
tacacs
radius
kerberos
local
Console> (enable)

Recovering a Lost Password

Use the following procedure to recover a lost local authentication password. You must complete Steps 3
through 7 within 30 seconds of a power cycle or the recovery will fail. If you lost both the login and
enable passwords, repeat the process for each password.
To recover a lost password, perform these steps in privileged mode:
Connect to the switch through the supervisor engine console port. You cannot recover the password if
Step 1
you are connected through a Telnet connection.
Enter the reset system command to reboot the switch.
Step 2
Step 3 At the "Enter Password" prompt, press Return. The login password is null for 30 seconds when you are
connected to the console port.
Enter privileged mode using the enable command.
Step 4
At the "Enter Password" prompt, press Return. (The enable password is null for 30 seconds when you
Step 5
are connected to the console port.)
Enter the set password or set enablepass command, as appropriate.
Step 6
When prompted for your old password, press Return.
Step 7
Enter and confirm your new password.
Step 8
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Software Configuration Guide—Release 8.7
39-16
Console Session Telnet Session
---------------- ----------------
disabled disabled
enabled(primary) enabled(primary)
disabled disabled
disabled disabled
Telnet Session
disabled disabled
enabled(primary) enabled(primary)
disabled disabled
disabled disabled
Chapter 39 Configuring the Switch Access Using AAA
OL-8978-04