Cisco Systems Cisco 7204

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Cisco 7204 Installation and Configuration Guide

OL-5101-02

Chapter6 Maintaining the Cisco 7204

Replacing or Recovering a Lost Password

Overview of the Password Recovery Procedure

Following is an overview of the steps in the password recovery procedure:

Step1 If you can log in to the router, enter the show version command to determine the existing configuration

Step2 Press the Break key to get to the bootstrap program prompt (ROM monitor). You might need to reload

the system image by power cycling the router.

Step3 Change the configuration register so the following functions are enabled: Break; ignore startup

configuration; boot from Flash memory.

Note The key to recovering a lost password is to set the configuration register bit 6 (0x0040) so tha t

the startup configuration (usually in NVRAM) is ignored. This will allow you to log in without

using a password and to display the startup configuration passwords.

Step4 Power cycle the router by turning power off and then back on.

Step5 Log in to the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Step6 Enter the show startup-config command to display the passwords.

Step7 Recover or replace the displayed passwords.

Step8 Change the configuration register back to its original setting.

Note To recover a lost password if Break is disabled on the router, you must have physical access to

the router.

Details of the Password Recovery Procedure

Complete the following steps to recover or replace a lost enable, enable secret, or console login

password:

Step1 Attach an ASCII terminal to the console port on your Ci sco 7204.

Step2 Configure the terminal to operate at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 2 stop bits.

Step3 If you can log in to the router as a nonprivileged user, enter the show version command to display the

existing configuration register value. Note the value for use later and proceed to Step6. If you cannot

Step4 Press the Break key or send a Break from the console terminal. If Break is enabled, the rout er enters the

ROM monitor, indicated by the ROM monitor prompt (rommon1>). Proceed to Step6. If Break is

disabled, power cycle the router (turn the router off or unplug the power cord, and then res tore power).

Then proceed to Step 5.

Step5 Within 60 seconds of restoring the powe r to the r out er, press the Break key or send a Break. T his action

causes the router to enter the ROM monitor and display the ROM monitor pr omp t ( r ommon1>).