Procedure With Password Recovery Disabled - Cisco WS-C2960-24LC-S Software Configuration Manual

Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password
Write the running configuration to the startup configuration file:
Step 13
Switch# copy running-config startup-config
The new password is now in the startup configuration.
Note
Reload the switch:
Step 14
Switch# reload

Procedure with Password Recovery Disabled

If the password-recovery mechanism is disabled, this message appears:
The password-recovery mechanism has been triggered, but
is currently disabled.
through the password-recovery mechanism is disallowed at
this point.
reset back to the default system configuration, access
to the boot loader prompt can still be allowed.
Would you like to reset the system back to the default configuration (y/n)?
Returning the switch to the default configuration results in the loss of all existing configurations. We
Caution
recommend that you contact your system administrator to verify if there are backup switch and VLAN
configuration files.
•
•
Elect to continue with password recovery and lose the existing configuration:
Step 1
Would you like to reset the system back to the default configuration (y/n)? Y
Load any helper files:
Step 2
Switch: load_helper
Display the contents of flash memory:
Step 3
switch: dir flash:
Catalyst 2960 Switch Software Configuration Guide
32-6
This procedure is likely to leave your switch virtual interface in a shutdown state. You can see
which interface is in this state by entering the show running-config privileged EXEC command.
To re-enable the interface, enter the interface vlan vlan-id global configuration command, and
specify the VLAN ID of the shutdown interface. With the switch in interface configuration
mode, enter the no shutdown command.
Access to the boot loader prompt
However, if you agree to let the system be
If you enter n (no), the normal boot process continues as if the Mode button had not been pressed;
you cannot access the boot loader prompt, and you cannot enter a new password. You see the
message:
Press Enter to continue........
If you enter y (yes), the configuration file in flash memory and the VLAN database file are deleted.
When the default configuration loads, you can reset the password.
Chapter 32 Troubleshooting
OL-8603-04