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- Password Recovery Techniques
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Introduction
-
- This document will explain several password recovery techniques for Cisco
- routers. You can perform password recovery on most of the platforms without
- changing hardware jumpers, but all platforms require the router to be
- reloaded. Password recovery can only be done from the console port
- physically attached to the router.
-
- There are three ways to restore enable access to a router when the password
- is lost. You can VIEW the password, CHANGE the password, or ERASE the
- configuration and start over as if the box was new.
-
- Each procedure follows these basic steps:
-
- 1. Configure the router to boot up without reading the configuration
- memory (NVRAM). This is sometimes called the test system mode.
-
- 2. Reboot the system.
-
- 3. Access enable mode (which can be done without a password if you are in
- test system mode).
-
- 4. VIEW or CHANGE the password, or ERASE the configuration.
-
- 5. Reconfigure the router to boot up and read the NVRAM as it normally
- does.
-
- 6. Reboot the system.
-
- NOTE: Some password recovery requires that a terminal issues a
- Break signal; you must be familiar with how your terminal or PC
- terminal emulator issues this signal. For example, in ProComm,
- the keys Alt-B will by default generate the Break signal, and in
- Windows Terminal you press Break or CTRL-Break. Windows Terminal
- also allows you to define a function key as BREAK. From the
- terminal window, select Function Keys and define one as break by
- filling in the characters ^$B (Shift 6, Shift 4, and Capital B).
-
- The following six sections contain detailed instructions for specific Cisco
- routers. Locate your router in the section headings to determine which
- technique to use.
-
- Technique #1
-
- All Cisco 2000 Series, 2500 Series, 3000 Series, 680x0-Based 4000 Series,
- 7000 Series Running 10.0 or Later in ROMs, IGS Series Running 9.1 or Later
- in ROMs
-
- This technique can be used on the 7000 and 7010 only if the router has 10.0
- ROMs installed on the RP card. It may be booting Flash 10.0 software, but
- it needs the actual ROMs on the processor card as well.
-
- 1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of
- the router.
-
- 2. Type "show version" and record the setting of the configuration
- register. It is usually 0x2102 or 0x102.
-
- 3. Power the router down, then up.
-
- 4. Press the Break key on the terminal within 60 seconds of the power up.
- You will see the > prompt with no router name. If you don't, the
- terminal is not sending the correct Break signal. In that case, check
- the terminal or terminal emulation setup.
-
- 5. Type "o/r0x42" at the > prompt to boot from Flash or "o/r 0x41" to
- boot from the boot ROMs. Note that this is the letter "o," not the
- numeral zero. If you have Flash and it is intact, 0x42 is the best
- setting. Use 0x41 only if the Flash is erased or not installed.
-
- NOTE: If you use 0x41, you can only view or erase the
- configuration. You cannot change the password.
-
- 6. Type "i" at the > prompt. The router will reboot but will ignore its
- saved configuration.
-
- 7. Answer "no" to all the setup questions.
-
- 8. Type "enable" at the "Router>" prompt. You'll be in enable mode and
- see the "Router#" prompt.
-
- 9. Choose one of these three options:
-
- o To VIEW the password type "show config."
- o To CHANGE the password (in case it is encrypted, for example):
- a. Type "config mem" to copy the NVRAM into memory.
- b. Type "config term" and make the changes to the configuration.
-
- conf t
- enable password password
- ctrl-z
-
- c. Type "write mem" to commit the changes.
- o To ERASE the config, type "write erase.
-
- 10. Type "config term" at the prompt.
-
- 11. Type "config-register 0x2102," or whatever value you recorded in step
- 2.
-
- 12. Hit Ctrl-Z to quit from editor.
-
- 13. Type "reload" at the prompt. You do not need to write memory.
-
- Technique #2
-
- Cisco 1003, 4500, or IDT Orion-Based Routers
-
- 1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of
- the router.
-
- 2. Type "show version" and record the setting of the configuration
- register. It is usually 0x2102 or 0x102.
-
- 3. Power the router down, then up.
-
- 4. Press the Break key on the terminal within 60 seconds of the power up.
- You will see the "rommon>" prompt. If you don't, the terminal is not
- sending the correct Break signal. In that case, check the terminal or
- terminal emulation setup.
-
- 5. Type "confreg" at the "rommon>" prompt.
-
- 6. Answer "y" to the "Do you wish to change configuration[y/n]?" prompt.
-
- 7. Answer "n" to all of the questions that appear until you reach the
- "ignore system config info[y/n]?" prompt. Answer "y."
-
- 8. Answer "n" to the remaining questions until you reach the "change boot
- characteristics[y/n]?" prompt. Answer "y."
-
- 9. At the "enter to boot:" prompt, type "2" followed by a carriage
- return. If Flash is erased, type "1." If all Flash is erased, the 4500
- must be returned to Cisco for service.
-
- NOTE: If you use "1," you can only view or erase the
- configuration. You cannot change the password.
-
- 10. A configuration summary is printed. Answer "n" to the "Do you wish to
- change configuration[y/n]?" prompt.
-
- 11. Type "reset" at the "rommon>" prompt, or power cycle your 4500 or
- 7500.
-
- 12. Once it boots up, answer "no" to all the Setup questions.
-
- 13. Type "enable" at the "Router>" prompt. You'll be in enable mode and
- see the "Router#" prompt.
-
- 14. Choose one of these three options:
-
- o To VIEW the password type "show config."
- o To CHANGE the password (in case it is encrypted, for example):
- a. Type "config mem" to copy the NVRAM into memory.
- b. Type "config term" and make the changes to the configuration.
-
- conf t
- enable password password
- ctrl-z
-
- c. Type "write mem" to commit the changes.
- o To ERASE the config, type "write erase."
-
- 15. Type "config term" at the prompt.
-
- 16. Type "config-register 0x2102" or whatever value you recorded in step
- 2.
-
- 17. Hit Ctrl-Z to quit from the editor.
-
- 18. Type "reload" at the prompt. You do not need to write memory.
-
- Technique #3
-
- IGS Routers Running Software Earlier Than 9.1
-
- IGS routers have a bank of DIP switches on the rear panel. If they are
- running software earlier than 9.1, then these switches are used for
- password recovery.
-
- 1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of
- the router.
-
- 2. Power the router down.
-
- 3. Record the settings of the switches on the rear panel.
-
- 4. Set switch 7 ON (or down).
-
- 5. Set switches 0-3 OFF (or up).
-
- 6. Power the router up. It will boot up to the > prompt.
-
- 7. Type "b" at the > prompt. The router is in test-system mode.
-
- 8. Press return until the "Test-System>" prompt appears.
-
- 9. Type "enable" at the prompt. You'll be in enable mode and see the
- "Test-System#" prompt.
-
- 10. Choose one of these three options:
-
- o To VIEW the password type "show config."
- o To CHANGE the password (in case it is encrypted, for example):
- a. Type "config mem" to copy the NVRAM into memory.
- b. Type "config term" and make the changes to the configuration.
-
- conf t
- enable password password
- ctrl-z
-
- c. Type "write mem" to commit the changes.
- o To ERASE the config, type "write erase".
-
- 11. Restore the switch setting to those recorded in step 3.
-
- 12. Reboot the router.
-
- Technique #4
-
- CGS, MGS, AGS, AGS+, 70x0 Running ROMs Lower Than 10.0
-
- 1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of
- the router.
-
- 2. Power the router down.
-
- 3. Remove the processor card (CSC/2 or CSC/3 or CSC/4 on AGS/CGS/MGS, or
- RP on a 70x0).
-
- 4. Change the hardware register from bit position 0 (or 1) to position
- 15.
-
- 5. Re-insert the processor card.
-
- 6. Power the router up.
-
- 7. Press "b" at the > prompt or "b flash" if you have Flash memory
- installed.
-
- 8. Press return until the "Test-System>" prompt appears.
-
- 9. Type "enable" at the prompt. You'll be in enable mode and see the
- "Test-System#" prompt.
-
- 10. Choose one of these three options:
-
- o To VIEW the password type "show config."
- o To CHANGE the password (in case it is encrypted, for example):
- a. Type "config mem" to copy the NVRAM into memory.
- b. Type "config term" and make the changes to the configuration.
-
- conf t
- enable password password
- ctrl-z
- c. Type "write mem" to commit the changes.
-
- o To ERASE the config, type "write erase."
-
- 11. Power the router down.
-
- 12. Remove the processor card and return the jumper on pin 15 to its
- original position.
-
- 13. Power the router up.
-
- Technique #5
-
- 500-CS Communication Servers
-
- The password cannot be recovered from the 500-CS since it does not have a
- console port. Your only option is to erase the configuration.
-
- 1. Power the router off by unplugging it.
-
- 2. Depress and hold the DEFAULT button on the front of the chassis.
-
- 3. Power the router back on.
-
- 4. Watch the OK and LAN LEDs. They will blink on, and then off.
-
- 5. When they blink off (after about 15 seconds), release the DEFAULT
- button.
-
- 6. In 2-10 minutes, the 500-CS will enter setup mode as if it was factory
- new.
-
- 7. Configure the router.
-
- You could also recover a password on a 500 by holding the DEFAULT button
- down for 30-45 seconds. The system will then be in test mode, and you can
- follow the normal procedure for password recovery. See the earlier sections
- for details.
-
- Technique #6
-
- Cisco 1020
-
- You must call the Cisco TAC to recover Cisco 1020 passwords. The 1020 will
- issue a password override challenge that can only be interpreted by TAC
- personnel.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Posted: Thu Aug 17 11:57:44 PDT 1995
-
- Copyright 1995 ⌐Cisco Systems Inc.
-