Recovering a Lost Password

Reference Information

An overview of recovering a lost password follows:

•

Enter the show version command to note the existing software conﬁguration register value.

Break to the bootstrap program prompt.

Change the conﬁguration register to ignore NVRAM.

Note A key to recovering a lost password is to set the conﬁguration register so that the contents of NVRAM are ignored (0x0040), allowing you to see your password.

•

Enter privileged level in the system EXEC.

Enter the show startup-conﬁgurationcommand to display the enable password.

Change the conﬁguration register value back to its original setting.

To recover a lost password, follow these procedures.

Step 1 Attach an ASCII terminal to the router console port, which is located on the rear panel.

Step 2 Conﬁgure the terminal to operate at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 2 stop bits (or to whatever settings the router is set).

Step 3 Enter the show version command to display the existing conﬁguration register value. Note this value for later use in Step 14.

Step 4 If Break is disabled, power cycle the router. (To power cycle, turn off the router, wait ﬁve seconds, and then turn it on again.) If Break is enabled on the router, press the Break key or send a break (^[) and then proceed to Step 5.

Step 5 Within 60 seconds of turning on the router, press the Break key. This action causes the terminal to display the bootstrap program prompt:

rommon 1 >

Step 6 Set the conﬁguration register to ignore the conﬁguration ﬁle information as follows:

rommon 1 > confreg

Configuration Summary enabled are:

console baud: 9600

boot: image specified by the boot system command or default to: cisco2-RSP

do you wish to change the configuration? y/n [n]: y enable “diagnostic mode”? y/n [n]:

enable “use net in IP bcast address”? y/n [n]: enable “load rom after netbootfails”? y/n [n]: enable “use all zero broadcast”? y/n [n]: enable “break/abort has effect?” y/n [n]: enable “ignore system config info?” [n]: y change console baud rate? y/n [n]:

change boot characteristics? y/n [n]

7000 Series Route Switch Processor (RSP7000) Installation and Configuration in the Cisco 7000 Series Routers 39