Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 97
53-1001763-02
The boot PROM password 5
The recovery string must be between 8 and 40 alphanumeric characters. A random string that
is 15 characters or longer is recommended for higher security. The firmware only prompts for
this password once. It is not necessary to remember the recovery string because it is displayed
the next time you enter the command shell.
The following prompt displays:
New password:
7. Enter the boot PROM password, then re-enter it when prompted. The password must be eight
alphanumeric characters (any additional characters are not recorded). Record this password
for future use.
The new password is automatically saved (the saveEnv command is not required).
8. Connect to the active CP blade using serial or Telnet and enter the haEnable command to
restore high availability; then fail over the active CP blade by entering the haFailover command.
Traffic flow through the active CP blade resumes when the failover is complete.
9. Connect the serial cable to the serial port on the new standby CP blade (previously the active
CP blade).
10. Repeat step 2 through step 7 for the new standby CP blade (each CP blade has a separate
boot PROM password).
11. Connect to the active CP blade by serial or Telnet and enter the haEnable command to restore
high availability.
Although you can set the boot PROM password without also setting the recovery string, it is strongly
recommended that you set both the password and the string as described in “Setting the boot
PROM password for a switch with a recovery string” on page 95. If your site procedures dictate that
you must set the boot PROM password without the string, follow the procedure that applies to your
switch model.

Setting the boot PROM password for a switch without a recovery string

This procedure applies to the following switch models: Brocade 300, 4100, 4900, 5000, 5410,
5424, 5450, 5460, 5470, 5480, 5100, 5300, 7500, 7500E, 7600, 7800, 8000, and VA-40FC
switches.
The password recovery instructions contained within this section are only for the switches listed. If
your switch is not listed, contact your switch support provider for instructions.
1. Create a serial connection to the switch as described in “Connecting to Fabric OS through the
serial port” on page 16.
2. Reboot the switch by entering the reboot command.
3. Press ESC within four seconds after the message “Press escape within 4 seconds...” displays.
The following options are available:
4. Enter 3.
Option Description
1 Start system. Continues the system boot process.
2 Recovery password. Lets you set the recovery string and the boot PROM password.
3 Enter command shell. Provides access to boot parameters.