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Catalyst2950 and Catalyst2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter32 Troubleshooting
Using Recovery Procedures
Note This procedure is likely to leave your switch VLAN 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 co mman d, a nd specif y th e VLAN I D
of the shutdown interface. With the switch in interface configuration mode, enter the no shutdown
command.
Step10 You must now reconfigure the switch. If the system administrator has the backup switch and VLAN
configuration files available, you should use those.
Recovering from Lost or Forgotten Passwords on Catalyst 2955 Switches
The Catalyst 2955 switch boot loader uses break-key detection to stop the automatic boot sequence for
the password recovery purpose.
Note The break key character is different for each operating system.
On a SUN work station running UNIX, Ctrl-C is the break key.
On a PC running Windows 2000, Ctrl-Break is the break key.
Cisco TAC has tabulated break keys for most common operating systems and an alternative break key
sequence for those terminal emulators that do not support the break keys. Refer to
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/701/61.html#how-to for that list.
Follow these steps if you have forgotten or lost the switch password.
Step1 Connect a terminal or PC with terminal emulation software to the console port. For more information,
refer to the switch hardware installation guide.
Note You can configure your switch for Telnet by following the procedure in the Accessing the CLI
section on page 2-9.
Step2 Set the line speed on the emulation software to 9600 baud.
Step3 Connect the power cord to the switch, and apply power to the switch.
After the switch performs POST, the switch begins the autoboot process. The boot loader prompt s the
user for a break key character during the boot-up sequence, as shown in this example:
***** The system will autoboot in 15 seconds *****
Send a break key to prevent autobooting.