38-5
Catalyst 2960 and 2960-S Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-8603-09
Chapter 38 Troubleshooting
Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password
Step 2 If you had set the console port speed to anything other than 9600, it has been reset to that particular
speed. Change the emulation software line speed to match that of the switch console port.
Step 3 Load any helper files:
switch: load_helper
Step 4 Display the contents of flash memory:
switch: dir flash:
The switch file system appears:
Directory of flash:
13 drwx 192 Mar 01 1993 22:30:48 c2960-lanbase-mz.122-25.FX
11 -rwx 5825 Mar 01 1993 22:31:59 config.text
18 -rwx 720 Mar 01 1993 02:21:30 vlan.dat
16128000 bytes total (10003456 bytes free)
Step 5 Rename the configuration file to config.text.old.
This file contains the password definition.
switch: rename flash:
config.text
flash:
config.text.old
Step 6 Boot up the system:
switch: boot
You are prompted to start the setup program. Enter N at the prompt:
Continue with the configuration dialog? [yes/no]: N
Step 7 At the switch prompt, enter privileged EXEC mode:
Switch> enable
Step 8 Rename the configuration file to its original name:
Switch# rename flash:
config.text.old
flash:
config.text
Step 9 Copy the configuration file into memory:
Switch# copy flash:
config.text
system:
running-config
Source filename [config.text]?
Destination filename [running-config]?
Press Return in response to the confirmation prompts.
The configuration file is now reloaded, and you can change the password.
Step 10 Enter global configuration mode:
Switch# configure terminal
Step 11 Change the password:
Switch (config)# enable secret
password
The secret password can be from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters, can start with a number, is case
sensitive, and allows spaces but ignores leading spaces.
Step 12 Return to privileged EXEC mode:
Switch (config)# exit
Switch#